I am just back from mLearn 2013 the annual world conference on mobile and contextual learning that took place in Doha, Dakar.

http://webit.cna-qatar.edu.qa/mlearn2013/

The conference featured an outstanding program and focused on the mobile learning activities in the GCC region (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE). Several mobile learning activities from big classroom programs with rollouts of thousand of tablet computers and professional training programs using mobile technologies have been presented in the practitioner track of the conference.

Furthermore in the scientific track of the conference a peer reviewed selection of international research has been presented from all over the world and is available via Open Access published at http://www.qscience.com/toc/qproc/2013/3

Furthermore I have been elected the Preseident of the IAmLearn Association and starting to think about activities and plans for the near future of IAmlearn. I am sure we will see an exciting conference next year again with outstanding papers and soon some interesting and community growing activities in the IAmlearn community.

Watch out at http://www.iamlearn.org and mlearn.org for the yearly conferences.

Thanks to Marco Kalz, for discussing and joint paper on

” Assessing the crossdisciplinarity of technology-enhanced learning with science overlay maps and diversity measures.”

Abstract: This paper deals with the assessment of the crossdisciplinarity of technology-enhanced learning (TEL). Based on a general discussion of the concept interdisciplinarity and a summary of the discussion in the field two empirical methods from scientometrics are introduced and applied. Science overlay maps and the Rao-Stirling-Diversity index are used to analyze the TEL field with a scientometric analysis. The science overlay maps show that a wide variety of disciplines contribute to research in the field. The analysis reveals that the field has been operating on a relatively high level of crossdisciplinarity in the last 10 years compared to 6 other fields of reference. Only in 2004 a decrease in the level of crossdisciplinarity could be identified.

Kalz, M., & Specht, M. (in press). Assessing the crossdisciplinarity of technology-enhanced learning with science overlay maps and diversity measures. British Journal of Educational Technology. doi: 10.1111/bjet.12092

http://hdl.handle.net/1820/5144

On friday 11th of october I gave a master class at the hogschool Inholland (Masteropleiding Leren & Innoveren l Domein Onderwijs, Leren en Levensbeschouwing l Hogeschool Inholland).

About 46 Teachers from mainly sceondary and higher education have been participating in a very inspiring and constructive event. I learned a lot thanks for all participants. So what did I hope do get across:

I talked about my vision on technology enhanced learning in general, the purpose of technology John Hattie’s Visible Learning Book and the limited effects of technology. I also talked about the effects we are aiming at with our researcg group in CELSTEC from awareness, to curiosity, reflection, contextualized knowledge acquisition amonngst others. I also talked about different technologies we are exploring mobile smartphones with dedicated app sets for different topics, ambient and situated displays, the role of sensors and sensing and the importance of feedback and closed feedback loops.

I introduced the model of inquiry based-learning and talked about the basic weSPOT set of tools available. Several teachers approached me about possibilities of using this in their classroom. We are looking forward to have the first set of dutch training materials soon.

One interesting discussion where practical issues meet research is the question how to handle the problem in the classroom if one should allow mobiles on in the classroom or strictly switch them off. One main outcome I would consider is the fact that dedicated tasks and purposes for the use of mobiles and smartphones in student assignments and groupwork is essential.

I also did the “create your app” exercise with the group and the results have been great. I enjoyed the work a lot and I am looking forward to the next workshop or masterclass with such enthusiastic and constructive groups.