John B. Stav

User Centred Mobile Aided Learning System: Student Response System (SRS)

This research develops a new system based on the user centred concepts and applied on the latest mobile devices. XML, database, information retrieval and object oriented technologies are embedded into the system. It is found that the system demonstrates a strong impact on teaching and learning in class activities in comparison with traditional learning environments. Also, the system has achieved that It can be self independent as well as integrated with other learning management environments, such as blackboard, Smartboard as well as subject oriented learning management systems, which makes an additional contribution to the modern pedagogical applications, such as activity based learning.

Investigating Peer Instruction: How the Initial Voting Session Affects Students' Experiences of Group Discussion

Peer Instruction is a popular method of implementation when using Student Response Systems (SRS) in classroom teaching. The students engage in peer discussion to solve conceptual multiple choice problems. Before discussion, students are given time to think and give individual responses with a voting device. In this paper, we investigate how this initial voting session affects students’ experiences of the following discussion. The data is based on student interviews which were analyzed using analytical tools from grounded theory. The students emphasize the individual thinking period as crucial for constructing explanations, argumentation, and participation during discussions, and hence for facilitating learning. However, displaying the results from the initial vote can be devastating for the quality of the discussions, especially when there is a clear majority for a specific alternative. These findings are discussed in light of recent quantitative studies on Peer Instruction.

A New Approach in Improving Operational Efficiency of Wireless Response System

The rapid development of mobile platforms enables new approaches to improve the operational efficiency of the wireless response systems (WRS). This investigation aims at achieving a solution in term of simple and fast operations for WRS. Two prototypes of different architectures are developed using Flex Builder and iPhone SDK respectively. The testing devices used are the latest handheld devices, such as iPoD Touch/iPhone, and HTC windows mobile phones. The advantages and disadvantages of the two approaches are identified after exhaustive in house testing and evaluations. Results show that current native approach is simpler in operation and faster in speed. It can be concluded that the introduction of native mobile application can advance the efficiency of wireless response system compared with traditional Internet involved applications.

A European knowledgebase framework for deployment of real time AV-communication in distance teaching

The knowledgebase constitutes a new independent European framework for disseminating and deploying pedagogical use of high quality real time audio, video and data communication services into distance learning environments at a larger scale. It is completed in 2006. The information base is supported by an educational network in order to provide effective dissemination of new pedagogical methodologies and new didactical frameworks. It offer improved learning experiences, technical advise based on expert knowledge, good practice based on collective end-user knowledge, train-the-trainer program for teaching personnel, and model recommendations for the wide adoption and effective integration of visual communication into distance training programs. A possible extension of the educational network and the knowledgebase, targeting user groups outside Europe, is discussed.