Mobile paradigms in the virtual world - sharing connectivity in learning

Abstract

Mobile usage and technologies have made great advances in recent years. Trends show that although such usage is predominant amongst teens, adults make considerable use of their mobile device for everyday communication. On another dimension, studies have also. shown that manipulation, and exploitation of virtual worlds, are indeed on the increase, and have offered fascinating aspects to training at the infonnal levels, whilst giving an entirely new perspective to simulation-based education. This study proposes to make use of mobile technologies and techniques, whilst exploiting best practice experiential learning using the mobile device, and integrate them with Virtual universes. The benefits offered by the virtual worlds in terms of interaction and imagery, as well as in terms of the socio-constructivist nature of the application itself, will couple and synchronise with the flexibility and accessibility offered by mobile technology. This study will build upon distinct learning objects created and shared in a virtual world and transferred to the mobile device, thus enhancing connectivity between users irrespective of time, context and location by building a cyclic knowledge workflow. This project will also evaluate the effectiveness of this type of learning amongst higher education adult learners.