Welcome to the QR Cache Research Project Wiki This wiki has been created to provide an overview of the QR Cache research Project conducted at College of the North Atlantic-Qatar.

Abstract

Qatar presents a unique opportunity to explore potential mLearning applications in a theoretical context.  The geographically small country in the Arabian Gulf has nearly ubiquitous mobile and wireless network coverage.  The penetration of devices such as smartphones is also incredibly high, including amongst students.  And those students have expressed an overwhelming desire to integrate their mobile devices into their learning.  With its virtual absence of infrastructural barriers, Qatar offers the potential to focus research on how mobile technologies can fulfill the promise of increasing student engagement by creating novel situated learning experiences.  QR Cache was developed to provide an exemplar of mobile reusable learning objects (RLOs).  In the pilot phase, RLOs accessed by scanning Quick Response (QR) codes were developed to teach English computer terminology.  Feedback was solicited from participating students and instructors to demonstrate the desirability of using such RLOs in combination with learners’ own mobile devices.  The study also draws upon Transactional Distance Theory (TDT) (Moore, 1989, 1991) and Koole’s (2009) FRAME model to provide theoretical grounding for both RLO and instructional design decisions.  Early results show increased engagement, and reduced transactional distance between learners and content, peers and instructors.  They also indicate that the RLOs show a strong convergence of the activity types delineated by the FRAME model. 

Keywords

FRAME, mobile learning, Qatar, QR Codes, reusable learning objects, situated learning, Transactional Distance Theory,

Contents

• About the Researcher
• Acknowledgements 
• Introduction / Project Overview
• Brief Literature Review 
• RLO Design Methodology
• Research Methodology
• Results
• Discussion
• Next Steps?
• References
• DIY Starter Kit

Print copy of the Final Research Report  Online copy of paper presented at mLearn 2012 in Helsinki, Finland Abstract of poster presentation at the Qatar Annual Research Forum 2012