Weak guidance with "Look" functionality in handheld-based classroom activities

Wireless handheld technologies can be used to move technology into the classroom framework rather than to move classrooms into the technology framework. To make such technologies effective, we support activities and teaching practices crucial to children's creativity and competence. However, because of the small screen size and distributed nature of some of the activities, it can be hard for teachers to engage in formative assessment, that is, finding out what students know and can do. The current work reports an idea about how to solve this problem and the first assays of this idea in the classroom. We try to enable what we call weak guidance during collaborative activities, by implementing a system feature called "Look."

[1]  Phil Vahey,et al.  FIVE KEY CONSIDERATIONS FOR NETWORKING IN A HANDHELD-BASED MATHEMATICS CLASSROOM , 2005 .

[2]  Robert Rieger,et al.  Using mobile computing to enhance field study , 1997, CSCL.

[3]  Joseph Krajcik,et al.  Scaffolding in the small: designing educational supports for concept mapping on handheld computers , 2002, CHI Extended Abstracts.

[4]  J. Roschelle.  Learning by Collaborating: Convergent Conceptual Change , 1992 .

[5]  Phil Vahey,et al.  Leveraging Handhelds to Increase Student Learning: Engaging Middle School Students with the Mathematics of Change , 2004, ICLS.

[6]  Herbert H. Clark.  Arranging to do things with others , 1996, CHI Conference Companion.

[7]  Sarah M. Davis,et al.  Research to industry: four years of observations in classrooms using a network of handheld devices , 2002, Proceedings. IEEE International Workshop on Wireless and Mobile Technologies in Education.

[8]  Timothy Koschmann,et al.  Cscl : Theory and Practice of An Emerging Paradigm , 1996 .

[9]  Michael Eisenberg,et al.  Log on education: science in the palms of their hands , 1999, CACM.

[10]  Uri Wilensky,et al.  Networked Gridlock: Students Enacting Complex Dynamic Phenomena with the HubNet Architecture , 2000 .

[11]  Preeti Singh,et al.  Combining handhelds with a whole-class display to support the learning of scientific control , 2003, CHI Extended Abstracts.

[12]  Agnès Blaye,et al.  Collaboration as a facilitator of planning and problem solving on a computer‐based task , 1991 .

[13]  Phil Vahey,et al.  Handhelds Go to School: Lessons Learned , 2003, Computer.

[14]  Christine Ferraris,et al.  Constructing collaborative pedagogical situations in classrooms: a scenario and role based approach , 2002, CSCL.