Exploring How Mobile Technology Provides Inquiry Supports for Middle School Students in Conducting Scientific Practices in a Ubiquitous Learning Context

Abstract

In a ubiquitous learning context, students can conduct scientific practices by using mobile and wireless technologies inside and/or outside of school. This particular learning context provides learning opportunities for students to collect and evaluate first-hand data anytime anywhere. However, learning challenges emerge in ubiquitous learning context when students are situated in both non-traditional classroom setting and information-rich out-of- class setting. To identify and address students' challenges in ubiquitous learning context, this study takes a longitudinal view to examine students' scientific practices throughout a school year. This paper explores how mobile and wireless technology can provide students with inquiry supports in conducting scientific practices, which include collecting qualitative multimedia data, evaluating and using first-hand collected qualitative data to construct scientific explanations in three different ubiquitous learning environments.