The next MRER seminar, Smart Learning - An Emerging Pedagogy, will be held on Thursday 31 May at 17:00.
The speakers are Philip Bonanno and Pen Lister. The chairperson is Professor Carmel Borg, Editor, .
The seminar will be held at the Open Access Area, Rm.224, Faculty of Education, Old Humanities Building.
Abstract
One common application of digital technologies is to promote learning through simulation. Digital simulations of places, events and processes enables learners to understand and appreciate relevant knowledge and develop affective engagement with location-related experiences. A contrasting approach is to use digital technologies to learn by immersion where various digital tools and resources enhance learning in authentic places integrating the virtual with the physical experience. This hybridisation can be brought about through virtual or augmented reality. Research is being carried out to promote such hybrid, immersive learning experiences through Smart learning that integrates augmented reality with other on-line resources enabling learners to create various dimensions of learning interactions.
Through such hybridisation cities like Valletta can be transformed into personal learning environments that facilitate customised, immersive yet flexible modes of learning. To explore this innovative pedagogical approach a number of learning journeys are being created about different places in Valletta focussing on the historical, cultural, artistic, architectural or scientific aspects of that location. Learners use their smartphones to interact with location-based augmentations that are triggered by identified on site features.
These augmentations provide learners with information about identified physical features, processes or events relevant to that location. But smart learning involves also critical analysis and reflection about learner’s experience at that particular location through generation and sharing of digital content in the form of comments and media creations. Open educational resources are used both to provide information at identified ‘Points of Interest’ and also to enable participants generate content and share their experience with co-participants. The effectiveness of such smart learning journeys is being evaluated, the ultimate aim being to develop a pedagogy for smart learning.
Through such hybridisation cities like Valletta can be transformed into personal learning environments that facilitate customised, immersive yet flexible modes of learning. To explore this innovative pedagogical approach a number of learning journeys are being created about different places in Valletta focussing on the historical, cultural, artistic, architectural or scientific aspects of that location. Learners use their smartphones to interact with location-based augmentations that are triggered by identified on site features.
These augmentations provide learners with information about identified physical features, processes or events relevant to that location. But smart learning involves also critical analysis and reflection about learner’s experience at that particular location through generation and sharing of digital content in the form of comments and media creations. Open educational resources are used both to provide information at identified ‘Points of Interest’ and also to enable participants generate content and share their experience with co-participants. The effectiveness of such smart learning journeys is being evaluated, the ultimate aim being to develop a pedagogy for smart learning.
Dr Philip Bonanno is Senior lecturer in Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) at the Faculty of Education (FoE), University of Malta (UoM). He holds a doctorate (Summa Cum Laude) in Instructional Psychology and Technology from University of Joensuu, Finland. His PhD thesis focused on ‘Learning Through Collaborative Gaming: A Process-oriented Pedagogy’. Dr Bonanno is a member of the academic team for the 'Programme in TEL’ of the FoE, UoM. He is: coordinator of the Masters Programme in TEL; member of the project teams for COST Action TU1306 – CyberParks; Erasmus+ EUStOre – Evaluating on-line open Education and resources, Erasmus+ FORETELL – Developing an on-line 3D virtual gaming environment to promote safety about fire and floods for 8-15 y.o students; and COST Action 16207 – Problematic Use of the Internet. Dr Bonanno published articles, papers and chapters in books about individual differences in learning, game-enhanced learning, Ubiquitous / Mobile / Smart Learning, Open Educational resources, learning design and digital literacy of teachers and teacher educators.
Pen Lister is currently undertaking full time doctoral studies at University of Malta, Department of Leadership for Learning and Innovation, supervised by Dr Philip Bonanno and Professor John Cook of the University of the West of England. Thesis provisional title is 'Developing an Effective Pedagogy for Smart Learning'. She was previously lecturer in web applications and multimedia at London Metropolitan University, Faculty of Computing, School of Multimedia and Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, School of Media and Communications. She held an additional role as Senior Blended Learning Facilitator (senior lecturer) in the Centre for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching at London Met. Early research has been in online learning communities and developing a bespoke web application to support informal academic professional development in blended learning practice at London Met. Other research interests include the future role of higher education in digital society, digital intellectual property, Creative Commons and the Knowledge Commons network, Open Access software, data, content and communities. Pen Lister is a former music professional who has also worked in political and market research for newspapers.
