Monday 27 December 2010

#Situated learning via #mobile #augmented learning for our #educational future

Learning within context was a difficult task in the past (travel, content design...). But with the ever growing (and simplifying) augmented mobile learning, it becomes a very feasible way of getting learners up to speed with the latest knowledge.

Situated learning was first proposed by Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger as a model of learning in a Community of practice. At its simplest, situated learning is learning that takes place in the same context in which it is applied. Lave and Wenger assert that situated learning "is not an educational form, much less a pedagogical strategy"(Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger (1991) Situated Learning. Legitimate peripheral participation, Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press p. 40). And I am in to that concept!

Let's be honest, if you read this definition, as a teacher, trainer or educationalist, you just want to read up on it. In case you doubt whether this could be of interest to your learners, doubt no more, just take a look at this simple situated simulation video proposed by Gunnar Liestoel (Norwegian 'oe') and his companions. Before looking at the video, know that it is rather easy to make a situated learning mobile lesson if you use wikitude (I had the pleasure of meeting Gunnar at mLearn2010, this is the blogpost on it). If you want to read up on Sitsim, look here for the project description: