Bridging Formal and Informal Learning with the Use of Mobile Technology

Bridging formal and informal learning to enable students’ engaged learning is a core tenet of seamless learning. Addressing the limitations of the current studies on the innovative design and implementation of seamless learning scenarios, this chapter presents one well-designed and implemented curricular initiative at the primary school level, namely, “Mobilized 5E Science Curriculum” (M5ESC). The chapter first discusses the theoretical background of formal and informal learning, and of seamless learning, and then presents the context information of mobile technology for science education in Singapore, as well as the 5E (Engagement-Exploration-Explanation-Elaboration-Evaluation) instructional model. These serve as the design rationales for the M5ESC curricular innovation. Next, the description of M5ESC provides an overview of how the school designed curriculum for seamless learning supported by mobile technology, as well as how students and teachers responded to this innovation. The work reported here is intended to inform the curriculum design and implementation of the notion of seamless learning enabled by mobile technologies.

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