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Authentic Learning Through Advances in Technologies pp 137–170Cite as

Authentic Learning of Primary School Science in a Seamless Learning Environment: A Meta-Evaluation of the Learning Design

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Abstract

A group of researchers had been working on a longitudinal mobile learning (m-learning) project in a primary school in Singapore. A curriculum design framework was proposed in the beginning of the project to guide the two-year design-enactment-reflection-refinement cycles of the mobilized curriculum. In this chapter, we narrate our implementation research approach by presenting a post hoc analysis of how the curriculum was progressively transformed for seamless learning (a learning notion that advocates perpetual learning across contexts) and how the design taps on the affordances for m-learning. The evaluation illuminates how various types of learning activities are systematically introduced in the two years of science curriculum to nurture inquiry learning across both formal and informal contexts, thus supporting notions of authentic learning. This chapter contributes to the literature on how to address challenges in translating learning theories and integrating mobile technology affordances into curriculum development and sustainable classroom practices.

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Acknowledgements

This chapter is based on work supported by grants from the National Research Foundation, Singapore (Grant#: NRF2007IDM-IDM005-021 and NRF2011-EDU002-EL005). We would like to thank our collaborators, former team members Gean Chia, Peter Seow, Wenli Chen, Hyo-jeong So, and Baohui Zhang, and teachers and students from our pilot school for working on this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanyang Technological University, 1 Nanyang Walk, NIE, NTU, Singapore 637616, Singapore, Singapore

    Lung-Hsiang Wong & Chee-Kit Looi

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  1. Lung-Hsiang Wong
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  2. Chee-Kit Looi
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Correspondence to Lung-Hsiang Wong .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Smart Learning Institute, Beijing Normal University , Beijing, China

    Ting-Wen Chang

  2. Smart Learning Institute, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China

    Ronghuai Huang

  3. Athabasca University , Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Kinshuk

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Wong, LH., Looi, CK. (2018). Authentic Learning of Primary School Science in a Seamless Learning Environment: A Meta-Evaluation of the Learning Design. In: Chang, TW., Huang, R., Kinshuk (eds) Authentic Learning Through Advances in Technologies. Lecture Notes in Educational Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5930-8_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-5930-8_9

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