1. Exploring the mediating role of mobile technology Ulf Hedestig & Carljohan Orre Department of Informatics Umeå university Sweden

2. Historical development of our projects Council of HRBJDistum Understanding the social context An exploration with a focus on technology Design

3. Case and methods Identify technologies that correspond to everyday social practice Methods –Decision to follow and study a class of 40 students –Ethnographical methods and techniques Interviews, group interviews, diaries, observations –Intervention Implementation of PDA-hybrids Quasi-experiment- exploring the role of mobile technology

4. Exploration phase Communication patterns –Mediation through Technology –Formation of study groups –Locus of activities shifts continuously Vertical and horizontal communication The infrastructure of communication needs an integration of public and private dimensions

5. Social dimensions Private –Home environment –Studies on their own –Personal technologies Computer, IRC, e-mail, Internet Mobile phone, SMS, MMS PDA, calendar, applications Accessible, ready at hand Public –Learning centre –Class activities Group work and study groups Lectures, seminars Social activities –Computer labs Desktop computers Course web Network Internet Access restricted

6. Adoption of mobile technology Aspects of use –Entertainment –News reader, Remote control –Coordinator Early evaluation –“Beaming” sharing information –Quality problems –Communication cost A two stage process –Exploration –Utilisation

7. ”The experiment!” Group assignments Individual preparation before the group discussion Tools - PiCoMap and Belvedere

8. The “experiment!” (2) Results –Mobile technology enhance transition between individual and collective activities Sharing individual perspectives Focus on content rather than structure Motivates and challenge existing study techniques

9. The “experiment!” (3) Results & Conclusions –The role of mobile technology Cognitive tool –Belvedere as a structuring tool –PicoMap as facilitator for discussion and negotiation –PicoMap as a reminder Tool of power –The ability to carry learning models in mobile applications

10. Questions and challenges Effects on our choice of technological supports? How do we design environments that integrates private and public interaction? How do we consider practices among actors involved in the learning environment?