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Session 3420

Smart Classroom: Enhancing Collaborative Learning Using Pervasive Computing Technology

Stephen S. Yau, Sandeep K. S. Gupta, Fariaz Karim, Sheikh I. Ahamed, Yu Wang, and Bin Wang

Computer Science and Engineering Department Arizona State University Tempe, AZ 85287, USA

Abstract Smart Classroom facilitates collaborative learning among college students. Students in such an environment form small groups to solve a specific problem or develop a group project. In a Smart Classroom, each student has a situation-aware PDA. Students' PDAs dynamically form mobile ad hoc networks for group meetings. Each PDA monitors its situation (locations of PDAs, noise, light, and mobility) and uses situation to trigger communication activity among the students and the instructor for group discussion and automatic distribution of presentation materials. Middleware can effectively address the situation-awareness and ad hoc group communication for pervasive computing by providing development and runtime support to the application software. We have developed a Reconfigurable Context-Sensitive Middleware (RCSM) for such purposes. In this paper, the characteristics of Smart Classroom, how RCSM can be used to develop such an environment and greatly enhance collaborative learning will be presented. The smart classroom will be used for a senior group software engineering project course as an illustrative example.

Keywords: Smart Classroom, collaborative learning, pervasive computing, situation-awareness, and Reconfigurable Context-Sensitive Middleware (RCSM).

1 Introduction

Over the years, technology has been used to improve the quality of instruction. However, effective use of technology to enhance the quality of teaching is a very challenging problem. Technology can be used to improve the quality of teaching in many ways. For example, it can improve the interactions between the instructor and the students, or in-group collaboration among the students.

Pervasive (or ubiquitous) computing technology makes the actual computing and communication essentially transparent to the users [1,2]. This transparency, although only partially possible in the current state of art, important to allow easier and seamless interaction of computers with humans. A pervasive computing environment is a collection of embedded, wearable, and handheld devices wirelessly connected, possibly to fixed network infrastructures

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Yoon, D. (2003, June), A Smart Classroom For Enhancing Collaborative Learning Using Pervasive Computing Technology Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--12230