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Mobile VLE vs. Mobile PLE: How Informal is Mobile Learning?

Mobile VLE vs. Mobile PLE: How Informal is Mobile Learning?
Mobile VLE vs. Mobile PLE: How Informal is Mobile Learning?
Mobile Learning Systems are often described as supporting informal learning; as such they are a good fit to the idea of Personal Learning Environments (PLEs), software systems that users choose and tailor to fit their own learning preferences. This paper explores the question of whether existing m-learning research is more in the spirit of PLEs or Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). To do this we survey the mobile learning systems presented at M-Learn 2007 in order to see if they might be regarded as informal or formal learning. In order to categorise the systems we present a four dimensional framework of formality, based on Learning Objective, Learning Environment, Learning Activity and Learning Tools. We use the framework to show that mobile systems tend to be informal in terms of their environment, but ignore the other factors. Thus we can conclude that despite the claims of m-learning systems to better support informal and personal learning, today’s m-learning research is actually more in the spirit of a VLE than a PLE, and that there remains a great deal of unexplored ground in the area of Mobile PLE systems.
Informal Learning, Personal Learning Environments, Virtual Learning Environments
Chen, Wen-Pin
739112b6-9b2f-4deb-92f3-7c8af78f129e
Millard, David
4f19bca5-80dc-4533-a101-89a5a0e3b372
Wills, Gary
3a594558-6921-4e82-8098-38cd8d4e8aa0
Chen, Wen-Pin
739112b6-9b2f-4deb-92f3-7c8af78f129e
Millard, David
4f19bca5-80dc-4533-a101-89a5a0e3b372
Wills, Gary
3a594558-6921-4e82-8098-38cd8d4e8aa0

Chen, Wen-Pin, Millard, David and Wills, Gary (2008) Mobile VLE vs. Mobile PLE: How Informal is Mobile Learning? mLearn 2008 Conference, the University of Wolverhampton. 08 - 10 Oct 2008. (Submitted)

Record type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Abstract

Mobile Learning Systems are often described as supporting informal learning; as such they are a good fit to the idea of Personal Learning Environments (PLEs), software systems that users choose and tailor to fit their own learning preferences. This paper explores the question of whether existing m-learning research is more in the spirit of PLEs or Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs). To do this we survey the mobile learning systems presented at M-Learn 2007 in order to see if they might be regarded as informal or formal learning. In order to categorise the systems we present a four dimensional framework of formality, based on Learning Objective, Learning Environment, Learning Activity and Learning Tools. We use the framework to show that mobile systems tend to be informal in terms of their environment, but ignore the other factors. Thus we can conclude that despite the claims of m-learning systems to better support informal and personal learning, today’s m-learning research is actually more in the spirit of a VLE than a PLE, and that there remains a great deal of unexplored ground in the area of Mobile PLE systems.

Text
InformalMobileLearning_modification_final_0718.pdf - Accepted Manuscript
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More information

Submitted date: 2008
Additional Information: Event Dates: Wed 8th to Fri 10th October
Venue - Dates: mLearn 2008 Conference, the University of Wolverhampton, 2008-10-08 - 2008-10-10
Keywords: Informal Learning, Personal Learning Environments, Virtual Learning Environments
Organisations: Web & Internet Science, Electronic & Software Systems

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 266158
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/266158
PURE UUID: f0be19d2-4011-4061-8aa8-bb64ad48295d
ORCID for David Millard: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-7512-2710
ORCID for Gary Wills: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5771-4088

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 18 Jul 2008 11:50
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:59

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Contributors

Author: Wen-Pin Chen
Author: David Millard ORCID iD
Author: Gary Wills ORCID iD

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