Structuring and Regulating Collaborative Learning in Higher Education with Wireless Networks and Mobile Tools

In our recent research we have explored possibilities to scaffold collaborative learning in higher education with wireless networks and mobile tools. The pedagogical ideas are grounded on concepts of collaborative learning, including the socially shared origin of cognition, as well as self-regulated learning theory. This paper presents our three design experiments on mobile, handheld supported collaborative learning. All experiments are aimed at investigating novel ways to structure and regulate individual and collaborative learning with smartphones. In the first study a Mobile Lecture Interaction tool (M.L.I.) was used to facilitate higher education students’ self-regulated learning in university lectures. In the second study smartphones were used as regulation tools to scaffold collaboration by supporting externalization of knowledge representations in individual and collaborative levels. The third study demonstrates how face to face and social software integrated collaborative learning supported with smartphones can be used for facilitating socially shared collaboration and community building. In conclusion, it is stressed that there is a need to place students in various situations in which they can engage in effortful interactions in order to build a shared understanding. Wireless networks and mobile tools will provide multiple opportunities for bridging different contents and contexts as well as virtual and face to face learning interactions in higher education.