Abstract
The paper addresses the question of how to design for learning taking place on mobile and wireless devices. The authors argue that learning activity designers need to consider the characteristics of mobile learning; at the same time, it is vital to realise that learners are already creating mobile learning experiences for themselves. Profound changes in computer usage brought about by social networking and user-generated content are challenging the idea that educators are in charge of designing learning. The authors make a distinction between designed activity, carefully crafted in advance, and user-generated activity arising from learners' own spontaneous requirements. The paper illustrates what each approach has to offer and it draws out what they have in common, the opportunities and constraints they represent. The paper concludes that user-generated mobile activity will not replace designed activity but it will influence the ways in which designed activity develops.
Highlights
The field of mobile learning — defined at a simple level as learning with portable devices such as mobile phones, PDAs, ultra-mobile PCs and personal media players — has matured to the extent that researchers and practitioners are able to take stock of what has been achieved and to consider directions for future developments
The profound changes in everyday computer usage brought about by social networking software and user-generated content have called into question the very idea that it is up to educators to be in charge of designing learning: learners themselves may sometimes be better equipped to take the lead
We argue that to make desirable changes happen, activities need to be designed with the particular characteristics of mobile learning in mind; in parallel, we argue that learners themselves are taking matters into their own hands, and are already creating mobile learning experiences for themselves
Summary
The Open University’s repository of research publications and other research outputs. How to cite: Kukulska-Hulme, Agnes; Traxler, John and Pettit, John (2007). Designed and user-generated activity in the mobile age. For guidance on citations see FAQs. c [not recorded] Version: [not recorded] Link(s) to article on publisher’s website: http://www.jld.qut.edu.au/. Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online’s data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
