MObIle techNOlOgy uSed IN aN adVeNturOuS OutdOOr learNINg actIVIty: a caSe Study
Journal Title: Problems of Education in the 21st Century - Year 2012, Vol 44, Issue 7
Abstract
Digital devices like smart phones, tablets, PDAs and GPS navigators provide teachers in primary and secondary schools with new and attractive chances to teach in a constructivist/constructionist way. The research was aimed at designing an engaging outdoor learning activity based on collaboration and active using of mobile technology. The suggested learning activity was inspired by a real-world treasure hunting game called Geocaching and was realized with 2 groups of pupils aged 10-14. Children used a GPS-enabled PDA to navigate from their current location to another. They encountered various types of problems while collecting hints needed to calculate the final location of a hidden container. Even collaboration between competing teams was necessary in order to succeed. The case study gives an example of a well-designed constructivist/constructionist learning activity with special focus on informatics education but can be easily adapted for using in any other school subject or some after-school context as well. The adventurous and competitive nature of the learning activity resulted in high intrinsic motivation to learn, so the educational objectives could be reached effectively. Reported findings are grounded in observations made during the learning activity as well as the interviews with participants.
Authors and Affiliations
Viera Palmárová, Gabriela Lovászová
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP35146
- DOI -
- Views 309
- Downloads 0
Resident scientists’ cuRRiculum and instRuctional decisions foR HigH scHool classRooms
This study explored Resident Scientists’ curriculum, instructional and assessment decisions for high school classrooms. We also attempted to fnd out the factors that influenced their decisions. A sample comprised eight...
SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND DEPENDENCE IN THE FACEBOOK USE BY ROMANIAN AND LITHUANIAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
The time spent on Facebook by university students is continuously increasing. This fact is raising many questions as regards the relation between the social networking websites and the university. The educators are chal...
THE TRUE PRIVATE COST OF A “FREE” UNIVERSITY EDUCATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY
The ostensibly free university education in Greece actually has several private costs. A comparative research design was used to compare Greek families’ private expenditures for university education in 2014-2015 to fam...
SUPPORTING DECISION OF MANAGEMENT MAKING VIA WEB MINING IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
While the management of education institutions is interested in gaining a greater level of knowledge of learner habits and behaviour, in case of students using on-line communication devices this goal cannot be achieved...
CHALLENGES FACED IN IMPLEMENTING FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION FOR PASTORALISTS IN KENYA
Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa allocate between 5% and 25% of public expenditure budgets to education ministries, because education is seen, correctly, as a major contributor to human welfare, social and economic deve...