融合Web Services架構與Android手持平台之情境感知行動學習應用－以活動導向延伸「貓頭鷹巢箱」生態體驗學習為實作案例

Abstract

There are many application cases and scenarios of mobile learning. Among others, cases of teaching and learning activities with mobile learners situated in dynamic environments and changing objects, would demonstrate the very essence of mobile learning, if context awareness computing is also available to support reflecting and exploring situational messages and environmental changes on a timely delivery, location-based and on-demand basis, and adaptive interaction to learners and teachers. In this research, we first proposed a framework integrating concepts and practices both from the activity-theory and a mobile-learning perspective. We then employ a research process of iterative steps incorporating activity-centered design and user’s experiences, and we then applied it to a real case of Owl’s Nest ecological experiential learning, which is an outdoor activity with mobile subjects for needs of context-awareness, to help illuminate issues in developing mediating artifacts and tools in this activity. Beyond guiding the requirements, the real case serves also roles of design validity and testing, and of usability test. In this study, we used an extended activity-theory for mobile learning and activity-centered design to first develop a blueprint of system design from a real case of action, and then showed and explained the whole process of the development project. Next, we implemented a context-aware architecture that integrates web service and android mobile system based on JCAF. On top of the architecture basis, we then develop the mediating application to support the mobile learning activities involved in the real case. The constructed application is tested to evaluate and validate the context-awareness support for developing context-aware mobile learning applications. Further the qualitative and quantitative feedback data collected for testing against usability issues and quality criteria. The revision paves the foundation for works in iterative cycles and for concrete suggestion of improvement.