From Virtual Learning Environments to Pervasive Learning Environments Yvan Peter LIFL – Université Lille 1 - France

From Virtual Learning Environments to Pervasive Learning Environments

Yvan PeterLIFL – Université Lille 1 -

France

Mobile Learning Summer School - 2009 2

Course objectives

Give an idea of the specific issues arising from the design & development of mobile learning

Provide example works that illustrate these issues


E-Learning Occur through a Virtual Learning

Environment or Learning Management System Manages users (course registration…) Provides a structure for courses Gives access to learning resources Can be collaborative or not

Collaborative features can be Synchronous (chat, IM, videoconference…) Asynchronous (mail, forums, blogs…)


E-Learning

Web based system Provides access “anywhere, anytime” LMS & resources target PC platform

Known screen size, input and output capabilities

Stable connectivity (more or less)


E-Learning architecture

Multi-tier architecture

Presentation layer Data layerLogic layer



Example with Java technology

Presentation layer Data layerLogic layer

ServletsJSP

Tag libraries

Enterprise JavaBeans

Persistent storee.g., relational

database




Mobile, pervasive, ubiquitous

[Lyytinen & Youngjin, 2002]

Level of embeddedness

Level of mobility

Pervasive computing

Traditional computing

Ubiquitous computing

Mobile computing

HighLow

Low

High


Mobile, pervasive, ubiquitous

[Lyytinen & Youngjin, 2002]

Level of embeddedness

Level of mobility

Pervasive computing

Traditional computing

Ubiquitous computing

Mobile computing

HighLow

Low

High


Enabling technologies Smaller (cheaper) and more

powerful devices, embedded technology Available anywhere, anytime

Wireless networks Enable connectivity in an

infrastructure or ad hoc manner Sensors and location awareness

Provide context information


Elements of design

Management & use of context Learning in & across contexts

Relation between Devices Tasks / activities Social aspects

Context and its use


A few words on context

Used to drive adaptation Of resources, activities, interfaces…

Context is any information that can be used to characterize the situation of an entity. An entity is a person, place, or object that is considered relevant to the interaction between a user and an application, including the user and applications themselves [Dey, 2001]


A few words on context

Used to drive adaptation Of resources, activities, interfaces…

Context is any information that can be used to characterize the situation of an entity. An entity is a person, place, or object that is considered relevant to the interaction between a user and an application, including the user and applications themselves [Dey, 2001]

And/or to the learning

experience

And also between users

through the application


Classification by context use

[Froehberg, 2006]

Context aware systems


Sample context aware applications

Digital context Virus game [Collela, 2000]

Simulates spreading of a virus

System is driven by approaching people

Savannah Learn to be a lion… Predefined areas trigger

events & media


Sample context aware applications

Physical context Ambient Wood [Harris et al, 2004,

Rogers et al, 2005] Environment related access to media Data collection


The case of location Location is THE main context of many

mobile learning systems Location can be computed in various ways

Explicit localisation GPS (outdoor) Triangulation : Wifi spots or cellular network

antennas Current cell in cellular network

Implicit localisation Any id reading : QR code/datamatrix, RFID Bluetooth detection


Reference model for mobile social software

[de Jong et al, 2008]

Context dimensions

Device aspect


Device Aspect

The form factor has an impact on the interaction & activity support Weight Screen size Input/output capabilities


Device Aspect

Device performance and function will also have their importance Processing power Memory Battery life Communication media supported

(bluetooth, Wifi, 3G) Sensors : GPS, camera…


Wireless communication

Personal Area

Network (PAN)

Local Area

Network (LAN)

MobilePhone

networks

Bluetooth

Wifi

GSM (low bandwidth)GPRS (medium bandwidth)UMTS (high bandwidth)HSDPA (high bandwidth)

~10 meters rangeDevice discovery

~100 meters rangeInfrastructure or ad hoc

Technical frameworks


Types of technologies

Type of client Thin client

Through the device’s browser Fat client

Requires software deployment

Type of communication Client-server Ad hoc / peer-to-peer


Thin client Requires

A browser on the device Good connectivity

Problems Pull mode Historical development of mobile markup Location is not transmitted by the

browser Except blackberry


Thin client : markup & protocols

WAP 1.x & Wireless Markup Language (WML)

Imode & CHTML WAP 2.0 & XHTML Mobile Profile


Thin client

Knowing the device (& the user) CC/PP (Composite

Capabilities/Preference Profiles) RDF vocabulary to define

Device hardware & software User preferences



Thin client

Knowing the device (& the user) UAProf (User Agent Profile)

Definition of the WAP 2.0 protocol extension to support profile transmission

Uses CC/PP vocabulary


Thin client Device Context Delivery (DELI) from HP

Lab software library to handle CC/PP & UAProf http://delicon.sourceforge.net

WURLF (Wireless Universal Resource File) Open source project to provide

A database of device specifications (XML file) APIs to take advantage of the database

PHP, Java, Perl, Ruby, Python http://wurfl.sourceforge.net/


Fat client

Development depends on the system

Problems Needs software deployment Heterogeneity of hardware & software


Fat client

Development environment .Net

Requires Windows mobile (PDA) Java

Need a JVM on device FlashLite

Needs a player on device


Fat client : Java


Flash Lite

The mobile version of Flash player & development environment

Programming language : ActionScript With restricted features compared to

PC platform


Flash Lite


Mobile Widgets

Information specific interface to be embedded on the user interface

At the time very much tied to the vendor environment

Frameworks & architectures


AMULETS project [Skipol et al, 2008]

Innovative learning activities Collaborative learning In context Authentic setting (supported by

ubiquitous technologies)


AMULETS architecture

[Skipol et al, 2009]


Reference Architecture

Reference Architecture for Context-Aware Learning Support Systems [Schmidt, 2008] 6 layers architecture


Reference Architecture

Interface level context

awareness

[Schmidt, 2008]


Reference Architecture: in use

Applied in the Learning in Process project Integration of working and learning on

a process level Learning management, knowledge

management, human capital management and collaboration solutions on a technical level



[Schmidt, 2008]



[Schmidt, 2008]


Mobilearn

Next-generation paradigms and interfaces for technology supported learning in a mobile environment exploring the potential of ambient intelligence


Mobilearn architecture


Open Mobile ApplicationFramework (OMAF)

[Dahn, 2003]

Conclusion


Maturity is still ahead

Heterogeneity of hardware platforms & software environments is a big issue

There is no consensus yet on the definition of the relevant services for mobile learning

Documents

From Virtual Learning Environments to Pervasive Learning Environments Yvan Peter LIFL – Université Lille 1 - France