Abstract
The rapid development of context-aware mobile technologies had created many new applications in various areas. One of the promising applications is for learning in museum environments with Bluetooth low energy (LE) devices and iBeacon technology. This technology had been adopted in many business venues; however, its application in education is still unexplored.
This study developed a context-aware ubiquitous learning system using iBeacon, wireless network, and mobile applications in science museum. The system delivers learning resources through the Bluetooth base stations to a learner’s mobile device triggered by the object where the learner is currently visiting. An empirical study was conducted with 33 junior high school students who were assigned to two experimental groups and one control group. Participants in two experimental groups were both equipped with guiding applications running on mobile devices. The application for experimental group 1 had context-aware push notification, while the experimental group 2 had not. The control group was a free-tour group without using any mobile devices. The results showed that with the help of guiding application using iBeacon technology, participants in experimental group 1’s learning outcome and visiting experience (in dimensions of Knowledge/Learning and Meaningful Experience) were significantly improved compared to the control group. Simply using mobile app without iBeacon technology could not effectively improve learning outcome or visiting experience. At the same time, the follow-up interviews showed that iBeacon guided-tour enhanced the interaction between the visitors and the exhibits.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Arnold, K. (1996). Presenting science as product or as process: Museums and the making of science. In S. M. Pearce (Ed.), Exploring science in museums London: Athlone (Vol. 6, pp. 57–78).
Chen, C.-C., & Huang, T.-C. (2012). Learning in a u-Museum: Developing a context-aware ubiquitous learning environment. Computers & Education, 59(3), 873–883. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2012.04.003.
Chen, Z., & Zhu, S. (2011). The research of mobile application user experience and assessment model. In 2011 International Conference on Computer Science and Network Technology (ICCSNT) Harbin, China (Vol. 4, pp. 2832–2835). doi:10.1109/ICCSNT.2011.6182553.
Chiou, C.-K., Tseng, J. C. R., Hwang, G.-J., & Heller, S. (2010). An adaptive navigation support system for conducting context-aware ubiquitous learning in museums. Computers & Education, 55(2), 834–845. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2010.03.015.
Falk, J. H., & Dierking, L. D. (2000). Learning from museums: Visitor experiences and the making of meaning. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.
Huang, Y.-M., Huang, Y.-M., Huang, S.-H., & Lin, Y.-T. (2012). A ubiquitous English vocabulary learning system: Evidence of active/passive attitudes vs. usefulness/ease-of-use. Computers & Education, 58(1), 273–282. doi:10.1016/j.compedu.2011.08.008.
Hwang, G.-J., & Tsai, C.-C. (2011). Research trends in mobile and ubiquitous learning: A review of publications in selected journals from 2001 to 2010. British Journal of Educational Technology, 42(4), E65–E70. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8535.2011.01183.x.
Hwang, G.-J., & Wu, P.-H. (2014). Applications, impacts and trends of mobile technology-enhanced learning: A review of 2008–2012 publications in selected SSCI journals. International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 8(2), 83–95. doi:10.1504/IJMLO.2014.062346.
Hwang, G.-J., Yang, T.-C., Tsai, C.-C., & Yang, S. J. (2009). A context-aware ubiquitous learning environment for conducting complex science experiments. Computers & Education, 53(2), 402–413.
Hwang, G.-J., Tsai, C.-C., Chu, H.-C., Kinshuk, & Chen, C.-Y. (2012). A context-aware ubiquitous learning approach to conducting scientific inquiry activities in a science park. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 28(5), 931–947.
iBeacon. (2015, October 11). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=IBeacon&oldid=685264999
Li, L. (2014). On scaffold design for museum learning. Modern Educational Technology, 05, 19–25.
Othman, M. K., Petrie, H., & Power, C. (2011). Engaging visitors in museums with technology: Scales for the measurement of visitor and multimedia guide experience. In P. Campos, N. Graham, J. Jorge, N. Nunes, P. Palanque, & M. Winckler (Eds.), Human-computer interaction – INTERACT 2011 (pp. 92–99). Berlin/Heidelberg, Germany: Springer.
Peng, H., Chuang, P.-Y., Hwang, G.-J., Chu, H.-C., Wu, T.-T., & Huang, S.-X. (2009). Ubiquitous performance-support system as Mindtool: A case study of instructional decision making and learning assistant. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 12(1), 107–120.
Richman, W. L., Kiesler, S., Weisband, S., & Drasgow, F. (1999). A meta-analytic study of social desirability distortion in computer-administered questionnaires, traditional questionnaires, and interviews. Journal of Applied Psychology, 84(5), 754–775. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.84.5.754.
Shen, C., Wu, Y.-C. J., & Lee, T. (2014). Developing a NFC-equipped smart classroom: Effects on attitudes toward computer science. Computers in Human Behavior, 30, 731–738. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2013.09.002.
Turan, B., & Keser, H. (2014). Museum guide mobile app: The case of the Near East University Classical Car Museum. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 131, 278–285.
Wang, L. (2015). Chinese students, learning cultures and overseas study. New York, NY: Palgrave Macmillan.
Wang, S.-L., & Wu, C.-Y. (2011). Application of context-aware and personalized recommendation to implement an adaptive ubiquitous learning system. Expert Systems with Applications, 38(9), 10831–10838. doi:10.1016/j.eswa.2011.02.083.
Zhang, H., & Zhao, Y. (2013). Evaluation of learning environments with the meaningful learning theory. Distance Education in China, 10, 90–94.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Appendices
Appendix 1: Quiz on Universal Knowledge
This is an anonymous test on universal knowledge. Your score will only be recorded in serial numbers. Please feel free to complete the test based on your knowledge.
Appendix 2: The Museum Experience Scale (MES) (Adapted from The Museum Experience Scale-MES)
Items | Descriptions | Factor loading |
|---|---|---|
Engagement with the exhibitions and exhibits | I enjoyed visiting the exhibition | 0.69 |
I felt engaged with the exhibition | 0.69 | |
My visit to the exhibition was very interesting | 0.68 | |
I felt I was experiencing the exhibition, rather than just visiting it | 0.65 | |
Knowledge/learning gained from the exhibition and exhibits | The information provided about the exhibits was clear | 0.64 |
I could make sense of most of the things and saw and did at the exhibition | 0.57 | |
I liked graphics associated with the exhibition | 0.52 | |
My visit enriched my knowledge and understanding about specific exhibits | 0.52 | |
Meaningful experiences from the interaction with the exhibitions/exhibits and/or other visitors | During my visit I was able to reflect on the significance of the exhibits and their meaning | 0.74 |
Seeing rare exhibits gave me a sense of wonder about the Exhibition | 0.50 | |
After visiting the exhibition, I was still interested to know more about the topic of the exhibition | 0.43 | |
Seeing real exhibits of importance was most satisfying aspect of my visit to the exhibition | 0.43 |
Appendix 3: Mobile Technologies such as Multimedia Guide Scale (Adapted from Mobile Technologies such as Multimedia Guide Scale-MMGS)
Items | Descriptions | Factor loading |
|---|---|---|
General usability (whether the functionality of the guide is appropriate, whether it is easy to use) | I will use a multimedia guide again when I visit an exhibition. (negative correlation) | 0.76 |
The multimedia guide was a distraction | 0.74 | |
The information given by the multimedia guide was too lengthy | 0.73 | |
It was difficult to determine where I was in the exhibition with the multimedia guide | 0.68 | |
The multimedia guide helped me to navigate around the exhibition (negative correlation) | 0.67 | |
Using the multimedia guide enhanced my exhibition visit (negative correlation) | 0.65 | |
The multimedia guide was complicated to use | 0.51 | |
Learnability and control (whether the guide is easy to learn to use, whether the user felt in control, and whether the information presented in a meaningful ways) | I felt I was in control of the multimedia guide | 0.78 |
Learning to operate the multimedia guide was easy | 0.74 | |
Using the multimedia guide did not require much training | 0.70 | |
The multimedia guide presented information in an understandable manner | 0.54 | |
I found it difficult to read the text on the screen of the multimedia guide (negative correlation) | 0.53 | |
Quality of interaction with the guide | The multimedia guide clearly provided feedback about my actions | 0.72 |
It was clear to me when the multimedia guide was taking the initiative to offer me information and when I needed to ask it for information | 0.54 | |
I became unaware that I was even using any controls on the multimedia guide | 0.48 |
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this entry
Cite this entry
Chen, G., Zhang, Y., Chen, NS., Fan, Z. (2016). Context-Aware Ubiquitous Learning in Science Museum with iBeacon Technology. In: Spector, M., Lockee, B., Childress, M. (eds) Learning, Design, and Technology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_5-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_5-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-17727-4
eBook Packages: Springer Reference EducationReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Education
Publish with us
Chapter history
-
Latest
Context-Aware Ubiquitous Learning in Science Museum with iBeacon Technology- Published:
- 09 July 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_5-2
-
Original
Context-Aware Ubiquitous Learning in Science Museum with iBeacon Technology- Published:
- 10 May 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17727-4_5-1