Survey on Context-Aware Pervasive Learning Environments

Abstract

Context-aware pervasive learning environments consist of interconnected, embedded computing devices such as portable computers, wireless sensors, auxiliary input/output devices and servers. Until this study there has been no survey that has evaluated and presented information regarding these environments. In this paper, we conducted a survey to identify the commonly used technologies, methods and models behind these systems, and evaluated the role of mobile devices in the reviewed papers. As a result, we made five observations: (i) RFID was the most common sensor technology; (ii) several learning models were suggested, but none was validated properly; (iii) client-server architectures are prevalent in the systems and mobile devices were used most commonly to represent information; (iv) most of the systems supported multiple simultaneous users, but few facilitated virtual communication; and (v) possible roles for physical environments in pervasive learning systems are: contexts for learning, content for learning, and system resources. Evidence indicates that suitable learning models have yet to be validated, and that more roles of mobile devices could be emphasised.