A knowledge engineering approach to developing mindtools for context-aware ubiquitous learning

Abstract

Recent developments in computing and mobile technologies have enabled the mobile and ubiquitous learning approach, which situates students in an environment that combines real-world and digital-world learning resources. Although such an approach seems to be innovative and interesting, several problems have been revealed when applying it to practical learning activities. One major problem is owing to the lack of proper learning strategies or tools that can guide or assist the students to learn in such a complex learning scenario. Students might feel excited or interested when using the mobile devices to learn in the real world; however, their learning achievements could be disappointing. To cope with this problem, in this study, a knowledge engineering approach is proposed to develop Mindtools for such innovative learning scenarios. Experimental results from a natural science course of an elementary school show that this innovative approach not only enhances learning motivation, but also improves the learning achievements of the students. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Interactive learning environments Knowledge engineering Mindtools Mobile and ubiquitous learning Repertory grid

Index Keywords

Teaching Engineering education Students Knowledge engineering Interactive learning environment Ubiquitous computing Ubiquitous learning Mobile devices Interactive learning environments Mindtools Repertory grids

Author Affiliations

Department of Information and Learning Technology, National University of Tainan Taiwan, Tainan, Taiwan

Sec. 4, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taipei, Taiwan

Funding & Acknowledgements

National Science Council, NSC

Grant: 98-2631-S-024-001, NSC 96-2520-S-024-004-MY3

This study is supported in part by the National Science Council of the Republic of China under Contract No. NSC 96-2520-S-024-004-MY3 and NSC 98-2631-S-024-001.

National Science Council, NSC

This study is supported in part by the National Science Council of the Republic of China under Contract No. NSC 96-2520-S-024-004-MY3 and NSC 98-2631-S-024-001.

References 10 References

1 Boose, John H., Knowledge Acquisition for Knowledge-Based Systems: Notes on the State-of-the-Art, Machine Learning, 4, 3, pp. 377-394, (1989)

2 Brown, John Seely, Situated Cognition and the Culture of Learning, Educational Researcher, 18, 1, pp. 32-42, (1989)

3 Actual Minds Possible Worlds, (1986)

4 Chen, Gwodong, Ubiquitous learning website: Scaffold learners by mobile devices with information-aware techniques, Computers and Education, 50, 1, pp. 77-90, (2008)

5 Chen, Yuh Shyan, A mobile learning system for scaffolding bird watching learning, Journal of Computer Assisted Learning, 19, 3, pp. 347-359, (2003)

6 Chu, Huichun, A Delphi-based approach to developing expert systems with the cooperation of multiple experts, Expert Systems with Applications, 34, 4, pp. 2826-2840, (2008)

7 Chu, Huichun, A knowledge engineering approach to developing e-libraries for mobile learning, Electronic Library, 26, 3, pp. 303-317, (2008)

8 Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences, (1988)

9 Phi Delta Kappan, (1991)

10 Practical Nonparametric Statistics, (1980)

A knowledge engineering approach to developing mindtools for context-aware ubiquitous learning

How to Cite