Myartspace: Design and evaluation of support for learning with multimedia phones between classrooms and museums

  • Authors:

  • Giasemi Vavoula;Mike Sharples;Paul Rudman;Julia Meek;Peter Lonsdale

  • Affiliations:

  • Department of Museum Studies, University of Leicester, 105 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7LG, UK;Learning Sciences Research Institute, University of Nottingham, Exchange Building, Jubilee Campus, Wollaton Road, Nottingham NG8 1BB, UK;Department of Computing, Oxford Brooks University, Wheatley Campus, Wheatley, Oxford OX33 1HX, UK;Lifecycle, 4 Jordan Way, Monmouth NP25 5EA, UK;University of Birmingham, School of Computer Science, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK

  • Venue:
  • Computers & Education
  • Year:
  • 2009

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Abstract

This paper presents a description and evaluation of Myartspace, a service on mobile phones for inquiry-led learning that allows students to gather information during a school field trip which is automatically sent to a website where they can view, share and present it, back in the classroom or at home. The evaluation focused on three levels: a micro level, concerned with issues of usability; a meso level, which examined educational effectiveness in terms of learning breakthroughs and breakdowns; and a macro level, which looked at the impact of the new technology on school museum visits practice. Issues of implementing mobile learning across school and museum settings are identified and cross-level influences are discussed. The study showed that the service was effective in enabling students to gather information in a museum and this provided resources for effective construction and reflection in the classroom. Minor usability problems did not detract from the learning, however there are significant issues concerning how to structure the visit and on the viability of Myartspace as a regular service.