MobilED : a tool by any other name

Abstract

Designing, implementing and evaluating educational technology for a developmental project in mobile learning is largely unchartered territory. This paper reflects on the process, the role-players, their contributions and the framework that was adopted to co-ordinate and focus the team's efforts in the design of the initial prototype of a Information Gathering and Lesson Tool (IGLOO) as part of the MobilED suite. MobilED is an international collaborative project aimed at creating meaningful learning environments using mobile phone technologies and services. The paper expands on the use of the activity theory to guide the design of a learning environment and the incorporating of a tool dimension (socialtechnological dimension) in an effort to knit the technology perspective to the pedagogical aims. The usability, usefulness, formation of virtual learning spaces and communities are explored and contextualize by the results found using this framework.