Title:	RESEARCHERS’ AND TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON USING MOBILE TECHNOLOGIES FOR INQUIRY-BASED LEARNING
Author(s):	Jane Yin-Kim Yau, Sadaf Salavati
ISBN:	978-972-8939-45-8
Editors:	Inmaculada Arnedillo Sánchez and Pedro Isaías
Year:	2011
Edition:	Single
Keywords:	Mobile learning, inquiry-based learning, researchers’/teachers perspectives
Type:	Full Paper
First Page:	136
Last Page:	143
Language:	English
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Full Contents:	click to dowload
Paper Abstract:	In the LETS GO (Learning Ecology through Science with Global Outcomes) project, we are developing and implementing mobile learning applications and activities to support inquiry-based learning in the field of environmental science. One of the purposes of the project is for students to learn about soil and water quality in real-life outdoor environments, in addition to classroom activities. Students are given mobile devices and sensors to measure and learn collaboratively about the quality of soil and water in different forests and lakes in the local area. Since the beginning of the project in the fall 2008 and up to date, one brainstorm workshop and five projects trials have been conducted with students (ages 14-18) from two local schools. Data analyses and results from these different perspectives (pedagogical and technological) have been presented in our previous publications (Spikol et al., 2009; Vogel et al., 2010). In this paper, we present the results of an interview study that took place in December 2008 with the researchers and teachers involved in the initial brainstorming workshop which took place in November 2008. The aims of this study are to investigate 1) the researchers’ and teachers’ expectations of the project, 2) their opinions about the potential outcomes of the different aspects of the project, 3) if they had any suggestions for future improvements relating to the project, and 4) whether and how IBL should or can be supported by technologies. The interview study data was analyzed in a qualitative manner using the content data analysis method (Cohen et al., 2007) and forms the basis of this paper.
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