The Natural Sciences Sector UNESCO

Using Mobile Learning to Enhance Engineering and Science Education

Rovani Sigamoney

UNESCO Engineering Initiative (UEI) Natural Sciences Sector

Mobile Learning Week 19 February 2014

Paris, France

What’s the link?

Link to Technology • More people have mobile phones than

toilets! Six of the world’s seven billion people have mobile phones – but only 4.5 billion have a toilet – UN Study

• Now more mobile phones in the whole of Africa than there are in the USA

• 2001:25 million 2012: 650 million (increase 2600%) – The Higher Times, Sept 2013

• Internet penetration at 15.6% in Africa,+-83.6% UK, but in Somalia it is 1.2% - Internet World Statistics

Link to Engineering • How do we encourage more youth to go into

careers of Science and Engineering? • Financial Reward: “Engineering degrees produce

the most millionaires”(Spear’s magazine and WealthInsight, 2013)

• It is estimated that some 2.5 million new engineers and technicians in sub-Saharan Africa – MDGs

• 1 engineer per 10 000 in sub-Saharan Africa (UK – 20-50 engineers)

• Obama: 'We don't have enough engineers‘ (10 000/year) (numbers in Africa?)

OUTLINE

• UNESCO Science Sector Activities for Mobile/Tablet Learning

– The Abdus Salam International Centre for

Theoretical Physics (ICTP) – Computer Aided Engineering Education

(CAEE) scheme – UNESCO Science and Engineering Fair –

Nigeria – UNESCO and Nature Publishing

• Conclusion

UNESCO/International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) collaboration •Active dissemination of SDU resources amongst Member States

–ICTP TV

–Thousands of recorded hours of Physics and Mathematics Lectures available on-line! –Demands from

• Malawi University of Science and Technology •Future University of Sudan •Univeristy of Nigeria

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xN-uZKPUgYA

CAEE • Computer Aided Engineering

Education (CAEE) scheme An approach to on-line practical laboratory work for engineering, science and technology (C. Onime, ICTP)

CAEE

CAEE scheme • Component for classroom

– Blended e-learning with video based material supported by e-books, slides & simulations

• Component for practical laboratory work – Augmented reality/virtual reality tools for off-line

or on-line use. • Useable on mobile platforms and • Interactivity is based on semi-immersive virtual reality. • In augmented reality, video of real world (from camera)

is combined with computer generated information to create the semi-immersive virtual environment

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Summary of CAEE scheme

• The CAEE scheme is about the design, development and implementation of a new approach that addresses challenges in education of engineers through computer based aids that emphasize the interactive use of modern technology. – The CAEE scheme is also applicable to other

areas such as science and technology.

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Low cost off-line/on-line implementation of an existing hands-on laboratory experiment in electronic engineering for Dr. M. Zennaro, ICTP’s T/ICT4D Laboratory

• Single PCB board used to teach wireless sensors.

• The AR software acts as − Smart interactive manual:

touching a component calls up information

− Replicate a full experiment: Simulate Step-by-step, showing connections & expected output

− Works with photo of board or board.

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Screenshot of experiment running on tablet

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UNESCO/ICTP Science & Engineering Fair – Nsukka, Nigeria Science Mobile Learning - to give a sense of the possible using mobile for science learning (Nigeria) – 12 lecturers -Target audience -150 UNN lecturers

UNESCO SED/International Centre for Theoretical Physics

» Interested Member States – Cameroon, Gabon » The Economic Community of Central African States, ECCAS – 10 countries » Islamic Development Bank - Palestine

UNESCO and Nature Publishing Group

The World Library of Science (1st and 2nd year University) • Transformative event in the world science education

landscape

– The Library will contain 2500 – 3000 learning modules in all concepts of life and physical sciences, arranged into standard curricula but capable of full customization by all institutions;

– A robust web-based and mobile-based delivery system

providing access to materials, tutors, and academic information to any faculty or student with basic connectivity.

– http://www.nature.com/scitable

• UNESCO/NPG

Conclusion

• Engineering and Science Education outreach for UNESCO is definitely strengthened and enhanced by mobile/tablet learning

• Fostering stronger university-industry partnerships to support these ideas help it grow

• Encouraging innovation through STEM mobile learning for Member States

UNESCO National Commissions – Walter Erdelen, ADG/SC

Thank you for attention

www.unesco.org/science