Using mobile learning in free-choice educational settings to enhance ecological literacy

Abstract

This article presents the case for using mobile technologies to facilitate the integration of classroom and outside-of-classroom learning experiences designed to enhance the ecological literacy of primary school students and their parents. There is growing evidence supporting the transformative potential of mobile learning technologies and tools within education settings to deliver meaningful learning experiences. We argue here that this potential could extend to integrating learning between the classroom and education outside the classroom (EOTC). We further argue that this mobile learning potential can mediate learning between students and their parents, visitors and educators at free-choice learning settings. We situate our argument within learning to enhance ecological literacy and call for studies that can consider the possibilities offered by mobile technology and related pedagogical frameworks, the reinforcement of learning experiences post a visit to a free-choice setting, and the integration with hands-on and non-technology mediated learning instances. Here we present some key theoretical considerations as a prelude to a study being funded by the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative to examine these possibilities.