Evaluating smart city learning

Abstract

Measurement and analysis of individually interpreted learning experiences can build a knowledge picture of how learners perceive immersive technology-mediated learning in smart cities. Comparison of these learning experiences, with theoretical factors derived from relevant literature, may then shed light on the usefulness of theory in practical learning design and approaches to the evaluation of immersive learning environments analysed from a theoretical basis. In turn, this may contribute to current approaches of urban smart city environment planning for citizen engaged ‘human smart cities’ [14]. Mobile learning location-based prototypes will be developed with subject experts and implemented in open (urban) spaces located at Upper Barrakka Gardens, Valletta for history and Argotti Gardens, Floriana for botany. This paper discusses potential methodologies for designing a measurement of the effectiveness of these learning experiences and associated learning design for immersive urban learning environments mediated by mobile and networked technologies. Acknowledging the hybrid nature [9] of smart city learning, interactions between digital tools, content and community, measuring both intra- and inter-learner experiences is anticipated. Identifying and quantifying these dimensions of interactions will help us understand more about how urban smart learning activities create immersive experiences for each learner, engaging them in a variety of internal cognitive and social processes. To clarify mutual interaction between theoretical and empirical factors, a system of theoretical factors of significance is proposed to be developed, and then correlated, with learning experience analysis factors. A brief review of hybrid learning environment research, including ubiquitous learning [4] manifested in hybrid [9], mobile [8] and smart city [2] environments, provides context for how analytical methodology might be applied to an interactive learning system in smart cities. Phenomenographic techniques of variation and outcome space are investigated, together with the Dialogic Space concept [30] of conversation interaction for analysing dialogues.