Plenary Speaker
Wednesday: New Media and Mobile Learning
David Gagnon, University of Wisconsin-Madison
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With each new set of technologies, educators ask themselves how the teaching and learning process might benefit from their use. While mobile media devices are no exception, critical analysis may reveal these technologies are more than just contemporary toys but possibly the embodiment of epistemic shifts in our culture, having a much larger effect on how we think, learn and live than ever expected.
During the session we will investigate some inspiring examples of mobile media in domains such as citizen science and social activism then explore some practical ways that mobile computing may relate to educational practice.
David Gagnon in an educational media designer and faculty consultant for the University of Wiscosnin-Madison's Academic Technology department. Specializing in educational simulation, game design and mobile learning, David has led numerous teams in producing innovative learning activities that foster intrinsic motivation and aim to contextualize knowledge within practice.
Funded by the MacArthur foundation and working within the Games, Learning and Society research community, David has most recently been establishing a community of educational researchers to investigate the use of mobile computing devices in formal and informal learning applications. After 2 years of design inquiry into the most promising mobile activities, the team recently launched ARIS, a tool for teachers to create their own place-based mobile learning experiences. In June, David is facilitating the community's first public event, the GLS-Mobile Learning Summit, in Madison WI to discuss the current and future state of mobile technology enhanced learning.
