Title: Activity theory for designing mobile learning

Authors: Lorna Uden

Addresses: Department of Computing, Engineering and Technology, Staffordshire University, Beaconside, Stafford, ST18 0AD, UK

Abstract: Mobile computing offers potential opportunities for students| learning. It is important to have an operational understanding of the context in developing a user interface that is both useful and flexible. The author believes that the complexity of the relationships involved can be analysed using activity theory. Activity theory, as a social and cultural psychological theory, can be used to design a mobile learning environment. This paper presents the use of activity theory as a framework for describing the components of an activity system for the design of a context-aware mobile learning application.

Keywords: activity theory; collaborative learning; context-aware learning environment; contradictions; design for context; mobile learning; mobile organisation; usable; design; education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMLO.2007.011190

International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 2007 Vol.1 No.1, pp.81 - 102

Published online: 29 Oct 2006 *

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