O desenvolvimento e a utilização de ambientes computacionais como apoio ao ensino e aprendizagem, aliados à evolução da computação móvel, têm contribuído significativamente para o estabelecimento de uma nova modalidade de ensino conhecida como aprendizagem móvel ou mobile learning (m-learning). Nesse cenário emergente, os ambientes educacionais existentes, mesmo possuindo diversos benefícios e facilidades no que diz respeito ao ensino e aprendizagem, apresentam problemas e desafios que precisam ser explorados. Um dos aspectos relevantes a ser investigado refere-se ao estabelecimento e adoção de padrões arquiteturais. De fato, grande parte desses ambientes é construída de forma isolada, possuindo arquiteturas e estruturas próprias, o que pode impactar negativamente a capacidade de padronização. O presente trabalho de pesquisa insere-se neste contexto, tendo como principal objetivo investigar e definir uma arquitetura de referência orientada a serviço voltada para ambientes de aprendizagem móvel. Tal arquitetura, denominada Ref-mLearning, visa contribuir para a evolução, reúso e interoperabilidade desses ambientes, possibilitando ainda um aumento na qualidade e redução de custos durante o seu desenvolvimento. Resultados alcançados por meio de avaliações e condução de um estudo de caso demonstram que a Ref-mLearning é uma arquitetura viável possuindo uma boa estrutura e organização para o desenvolvimento de ambientes de aprendizagem móvel orientados a serviço. / The development and use of computational environment to support the teaching and learning, together with the evolution of mobile computing, have contributed significantly to the establishment of a new mode of teaching known as mobile learning (m-learning). In this emerging scenario, the existing educational environments, despite having various benefits and facilities with regard to teaching and learning, present problems and challenges that need to be explored. An important aspect to be investigated refers to the establishment and adoption of architectural patterns. In fact, many of these environments is built in isolation, possessing own architectures and structures, which may negatively impact the standardization capacity. This research work is part of this context, the main objective to investigate and define a service-oriented reference architecture for mobile learning environments. Such an architecture, called Ref-mLearning, aims to contribute to the evolution, reuse and interoperability of these environments, still enabling an increase in quality and cost reduction during its development. Results achieved through evaluations and conducting a case study show that Ref-mLearning is a viable architecture having a good structure and organization for the development of a service-oriented mobile learning environment.

A importância das disciplinas de programação nas grades curriculares de cursos de computação, tanto no contexto nacional como internacional e as limitações e problemas apresentados em tais disciplinas, tem levado a um esforço significativo em pesquisas na área da Informática na Educação para propor soluções de software no domínio de ensino e aprendizagem de programação, com destaque para a adoção de soluções para a modalidade de aprendizagem eletrônica (e-learning). No entanto, é possível notar limitações nas pesquisas já conduzidas, principalmente em relação à quantidade ainda reduzida de estudos que adotam a aprendizagem móvel (m-learning) como modalidade para ensinar a programar. Observa-se, ainda, a incipiência de pesquisas que adotam metodologias provenientes da Engenharia de Software baseada em Reúso para apoiar o processo de criação de produtos de software educacionais. A adoção de tais metodologias pode permitir uma variação maior de produtos educacionais, permitindo o desenvolvimento de modo a atender um maior número de professores, instituições e domínios. Neste contexto, esta pesquisa de doutorado tem como objetivo propor e desenvolver uma infraestrutura para o desenvolvimento de aplicações educacionais móveis para o ensino de fundamentos de programação a serem utilizadas em nível superior. Para isso, diferentes soluções já existentes foram avaliadas permitindo a criação de um catálogo de requisitos educacionais móveis que serviu de artefato para o estabelecimento de uma arquitetura de linha de produtos de software (LPS) e de uma ferramenta de apoio, intitulada TANGRAM (an infrasTructure to support the development of mobile leArning applicatioNs for the teachinG and leaRning of progrAMming fundamentals), que permite a criação facilitada dos produtos dessa linha. Adicionalmente, um conjunto inicial de funcionalidades para a plataforma móvel foi desenvolvido. Para verificar a viabilidade do uso de tal infraestrutura, diversas avaliações foram conduzidas nas diferentes etapas de concepção da mesma. Ao final, foram observadas evidências preliminares de que a LPS e a ferramenta TANGRAM possibilitam a criação de aplicações educacionais móveis para serem utilizadas na mitigação de problemas no ensino e aprendizagem de fundamentos programação. Além de contribuições complementares referentes ao catálogo de requisitos para aplicações educacionais móveis, as escolhas metodológicas e tecnológicas na concepção do projeto arquitetural, e um conjunto de gestos de interação para telas sensíveis ao toque a integrar as aplicações educacionais, que possibilitam a condução de trabalhos futuros na exploração dos mesmos no que se refere à mitigação de problemas no ensino e aprendizagem de fundamentos programação. / The importance of programming disciplines in computer curricula courses worldwide has increasing the efforts of researches in informatics in education area to propose software for the mitigation of problems in programming domain, highlighting the adoption of electronic learning solutions (e-learning). Meanwhile, it is possible to identify limitations in researches that adopting other learning modalities, as mobile learning modality (m-learning) for teaching of programming. Furthermore, it is also noticed a lack of adoption of reused-based software engineering methodologies, for supporting the process of development of educational software for programming domain, in special, software product lines (SPL).The adoption of such methodologies may allow a higher variation of educational products and a higher support for a greater number of professors and institutions. In this perspective, this doctoral research aimed at the establishment of an infrastructure to support the development of m-learning applications for the teaching of programming fundamentals in undergraduates courses. For that, several software solutions in programming domain were analysed allowing the creation of a m-learning requirement catalog. Such catalog was used as the main artifact for the establishment of an SPL and a support tool entitled TANGRAM (an infrasTructure to support the development of mobile leArning applicatioNs for the teachinG and leaRning of progrAMming fundamentals). The tool was proposed to facilitate the creation of applications considering the SPLs artifacts and their management. Additionally, an initial set of features for the mobile learning applications were developed, e.g., a catalog of gestures. To investigate the viability in the use of such infrastructure, several evaluations were conducted in each phase of conception of the SPL. At the end, preliminar positive evidence indicates that both LPS and TANGRAM tool may allow the develpment of m-learning applications for the mitigation of problems in the teaching and learning of programming fundamentals. Besides, contributions related with the m-learning requirement catalog, the methods and technologies selected for the conduction of the architectural project, and a set of gesture for touchscreen interfaces were also identified, resulting in an infrastructure which may be better investigate and adopted to improve the processes of teaching and learning in the programming fundamentals domain.

在邁入知識經濟的現今社會中，企業的生產要素已轉變為以知識為基礎，而學習正是知識經濟時代增加企業競爭力的最佳利器。隨著科技的發展，線上學習(e-Learning)不論在傳統公司或電子化企業中已扮演著重要不可或缺的角色。線上學習的獨特性不但可使教育訓練的成本降低，更可以配合企業的全球化運作，這些優點吸引了許多公司開始規劃線上訓練。但由於目前線上學習多採用Web(World Wide Web)介面並且必須與網際網路連接，所以有發展上的限制且缺乏行動性。因此本研究將應用行動科技結合學習科技來克服這個問題。 　　本研究希望建構一行動學習設計並且整合知識庫，使得知識學習的來源不再僅侷限於學習教材，更能包含整個組織的知識。另外也設計一搜尋機制希望藉此能有效率地執行行動搜尋。 / In knowledge economy, the key factor of production is knowledge. Learning will be the best effective tool to increase the competitiveness in the knowledge-based economy. With the development of Information Technology, Electronic Learning (e-Learning) becomes important, indispensable in traditional business, and e-business. e-Learning with unique characteristics lowers training costs and makes organizational learning global. These benefits catch the attentions of the company to pursue e-Learning. However, the problem that e-Learning has to be Web-enabled (World Wide Web enabled) and Internet-based creates a technical and managerial barrier limits its development and lack the mobility. In our research, we aim to apply Mobile Technology with Learning Technology to overcome this problem. 　　Our research focuses on the design of a mobile learning (m-Learning) model that supports learning anywhere, anytime and any form. Beside, we develop an approach to integrate with knowledge repository. The learning scope will not be limited to instructional courseware. It includes organizational knowledge. The search assistant helps user to access relevant information with minimal effort and reduce the amount of information that needs to be transmitted.

This study explores the application of wireless local area network (WLAN) in mobile learning. Although still in its infancy, Taiwan¡¦s government has devoted much resource on mobile learning as the extention of e-Taiwan project. National museums are among the key projects where the effectiveness of mobile learning can be soundly demonstrated. Taking national museums as observing objects, this study examines whether museum visitors appreciate WLAN environment within which personal digital assistants (PDA) operate as mobile educational tools. It further explores the key success factors that leads to successful deployment of mobile learning system. The researcher conducted a two-wave survey, firstly on museum visiters then on museum and e-learning experts for data gathering. Using analytical hierarchy process (AHP) as the research method, this study filters out the priority setting of those six categories as follows according to their significance: learning content, network connection, interface design, mareking and promotion, and business model. It also shows that the priority setting might change as a matter of time. As far as implication for education is concerned, the study suggests that, in the learning space of museum, PDA equipped with WLAN proves to be an appropriate mobile learning tool, notably useful in conducting blending learning and self-directed learning. Such finding should contribute to the understanding and further deployment of mobile learning activities in the context of museums. Keywords: wireless local area network (WLAN), mobile learning, blending learning, self-directed learning, personal digital assistant (PDA), fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP), key success factors, museum

Communication between deaf individuals and hearing individuals can be very difficult. For people who are born deaf, English is often a second language with the first language being American Sign Language (ASL). Very few hearing people in the United States sign or are aware of Deafness, Deaf culture, or how to appropriately communicate with people with hearing loss. In this thesis, I concentrate on the role that mobile technologies can play in ameliorating some of these issues. In formative work with Deaf teenagers in the metro-Atlanta area, I investigate the role that communication technologies play in the lives of many Deaf individuals and examine how these devices have effected their communication patterns and social circles. Specifically, the teens identified problems communicating with hearing individuals such as close friends and family in face-to-face situations. Having identified sign language use at home as one of the earliest interventions for Deaf children, I investigated the use of mobile phones for learning survival-level ASL. I created a prototype software application which presented short ASL lessons via either a mobile phone or desktop web-browser. The software presented the lessons via one of two different scheduling methods designed to take advantage of the spacing effect during learning. I designed and conducted a study of forty individuals with no prior ASL knowledge which compared the effects of both scheduling algorithm and platform. My results show that individuals who used a mobile phone platform and received a group of lessons at one time performed better on post-test receptive and generative ASL metrics than did participants in the three other conditions.

Τα τελευταία χρόνια η αναμφισβήτητα εντυπωσιακή τεχνολογική πρόοδος έχει δώσει τεράστια ώθηση σε ένα ευρύ φάσμα επιστημονικών πεδίων τα οποία βασίζονται σε αυτή, με χαρακτηριστικό παράδειγμα τον τομέα των Τηλεπικοινωνιών. Απόλυτα λογικό αποτέλεσμα είναι η παγκόσμια αγορά να έχει κατακλυστεί από δισεκατομμύρια κινητές συσκευές, η χρήση των οποίων διευκολύνει απίστευτα και την ανάπτυξη της έρευνας στους αντίστοιχους κλάδους. Μία από τις χαρακτηριστικές τεχνολογίες που εκμεταλλευόμενη πλήρως αυτή τη αλματώδη πρόοδο έχει επιφέρει εντυπωσιακά αποτελέσματα είναι η Επαυξημένη Πραγματικότητα. Βασίζεται στην γεφύρωση του χάσματος μεταξύ της εικονικότητας και της πραγματικότητας με ένα μοναδικό τρόπο ενίσχυσης της αντίληψής μας ως προς την τελευταία και με εφαρμογές από το Στρατό και τη Διαφήμιση ως τα ερευνητικά πεδία της Αναγνώρισης Εικόνας και της Εκπαίδευσης. Αυτή της όμως η σημαντικότατη ανάπτυξη γεννά αναπόφευκτα πέρα από την παραγωγή γνώσης και βασικά ερωτήματα που απασχολούν την ερευνητική κοινότητα, ορισμένα εκ των οποίων είναι αν μπορεί η χρήση τεχνικών Επαυξημένης Πραγματικότητας μέσω της αναγνώρισης εικόνας, πέρα από την εξέλιξη του ευρύτερου κλάδου της Υπολογιστικής Όρασης, να συμβάλλει στη βελτίωση μαθησιακών εμπειριών και αν ναι κατά πόσο είναι εφικτή η αντιμετώπιση θεμελιωδών εκπαιδευτικών προβλημάτων, όπως η διάσπαση προσοχής και η έλλειψη διαδραστικότητας. Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας εργασίας προσπαθώντας να δώσουμε ουσιαστικές απαντήσεις στα παραπάνω ερωτήματα δημιουργήσαμε τη διαδραστική εφαρμογή «AugMentor», ειδικά σχεδιασμένη για τις ανάγκες της ξενάγησης των επισκεπτών του Μουσείου Επιστημών του Πανεπιστημίου Πατρών. Έχοντας ενσωματώσει ένα ολοκληρωμένο περιβάλλον Επαυξημένης Πραγματικότητας εντός της εφαρμογής αναπτύξαμε ένα παιχνίδι κρυμμένου θησαυρού κατά το οποίο οι επισκέπτες του μουσείου δέχονται ένα συγκεκριμένο αριθμό ερωτήσεων οι οποίες βασίζονται στα μουσειακά εκθέματα και αμέσως μετά καλούνται να περιηγηθούν οι ίδιοι στους εσωτερικούς χώρους του. Με βάση την επιτυχή αναγνώριση του κάθε εκθέματος και την προσωποποιημένη απεικόνιση των εκάστοτε απεικονιζόμενων πληροφοριών προσπαθούν να δώσουν απαντήσεις στα ερωτήματα αυτά. Η εφαρμογή AugMentor υλοποιήθηκε για κινητές συσκευές που υποστηρίζουν το λειτουργικό σύστημα Android και πλέον αποτελεί μέρος της μόνιμης ξενάγησης του Μουσείου Επιστημών και Τεχνολογίας. Παρουσιάζουμε μια περιγραφική και αναλυτική μελέτη περίπτωσης χρήσης της εφαρμογής, υλοποιώντας πειραματικά στο Μουσείο Επιστημών μια κανονική ξενάγηση. Χρησιμοποιώντας την εφαρμογή AugMentor οδηγούμαστε σε ασφαλή συμπεράσματα ως προς την επίτευξη του κύριου στόχου υλοποίησής της, ο οποίος είναι το κατά πόσο οι επισκέπτες του μουσείου στην προσπάθειά τους να απαντήσουν τις ερωτήσεις που τους ανατέθηκαν θα μπορούσαν να μάθουν και επιπρόσθετες πληροφορίες για τα εκθέματα, βελτιώνοντας τη μάθηση μέσω της χρήσης κινητών συσκευών. Το πείραμα που πραγματοποιήσαμε χωρίστηκε σε δύο μέρη, το πρώτο βασίζεται στα πρότυπα μιας κανονικής ξενάγησης των επισκεπτών, χωρίς τη χρήση κάποιας εφαρμογής και το δεύτερο στην ξενάγηση μέσω της εφαρμογής AugMentor. Στους επισκέπτες δόθηκαν αντίστοιχα ερωτηματολόγια και στις δύο περιπτώσεις και στη συνέχεια αξιολογήθηκε συγκριτικά η συμβολή της εφαρμογής AugMentor στη συνολική εμπλούτιση της μουσειακής εμπειρίας ενός επισκέπτη. / Over the last few years the indisputably outstanding technological advances have given a huge boost to a wide range of scientific areas of study that are based on it. A typical example can definitely be considered the one associated with Telecommunications. An utterly rational outcome constitutes the fact that global market is overwhelmed by billions of mobile devices, the use of which facilitates to a large extent the whole research development towards those fields. An iconic technology that fully exploiting this rapid progress has brought about impressive results is Augmented Reality. Augmented Reality is based on bridging the gap between virtuality and reality in a unique way to enhance our perception as to the latter and its applications vary from Army and Advertisement to the research fields of Image Recognition and Education. It is exactly the impressive growth of Augmented Reality which inevitably generates essential questions that research community has to deal with. Some of these questions are whether the use of Augmented Reality techniques, through Image Recognition, apart from the wider development of Computer Vision, can help improving learning experiences and if so to which extent it is possible to address fundamental educational problems, such as distractibility and lack of interactivity. In this master thesis, trying to give substantial answers to these questions we have created the interactive application «AugMentor», specially designed for the tour needs of Museum of Science and Technology, located in University of Patras. Having incorporated an integrated Augmented Reality environment inside this application, we developed a treasure hunt game in which visitors receive a certain number of questions closely related to museum’s exhibits and afterwards they have to wander within its interiors. Based on the successful recognition of each exhibit and personalized display of each respective information, visitors attempt to answer these questions. AugMentor is implemented for mobile devices that support the Android operating system and is now part of permanent museum guidance. Our main objective is improving Mobile Learning, which is learning through the use of mobile devices. We present a sufficient case study, selecting Museum of Science and Technology as an experimental space so as to determine the degree to which AugMentor application can practically contribute to this purpose. One of our key points towards this perspective was estimating the amount of totally imparted knowledge, since involving students with a significant pool of knowledge provides them with a motivation to have an active role during their guidance. The experiment we conducted was divided into two parts, the first one was based on the standards of a normal tour of visitors without using any application and the second one was based on a tour using AugMentor application. Guests are respectively given questionnaires in both cases and then we assessed AugMentor’s relative contribution to the overall implementation regarding enriching the museum experience of a visitor.

Mobile technologies are increasingly being used to support students in outdoor learning activities. For instance, in a growing number of research projects, smartphones and positioning technologies are being used to support students in exploring the natural environment. However, previous research has identified challenges with the introduction of mobile technology into outdoor lessons. One fundamental challenge is that interaction with mobile technology in outdoor lessons may distract students from interacting with the physical environment. In this thesis this challenge is approached from the perspective of human-computer interaction, guided by the following research question: How can we design, evaluate, and reflect on mobile technology for interacting with the physical environment in outdoor lessons? The thesis presents four design cases on outdoor geometry and biology lessons, which act as probes for developing conceptual design tools. The design cases were developed through a concept-driven design approach and evaluated on field tests with primary school students. Future workshop and Interaction analysis were the main methods used. The results of the field tests suggest that mobile technology needs to be designed to orientate students in their interaction with the physical environment. In line with the concept-driven design approach, the thesis proposes three design tools. The design tools proposed are: Design guidelines that are specific enough for guiding the design of mobile technology for outdoor lessons, a Design model for designing and evaluating mobile technology for outdoor lessons, and Design concepts for reflecting on the placement of mobile technology in outdoor lessons. The design tools are proposed as tools for researchers and designers to take the challenge of distraction into account in designing mobile technology for outdoor lessons. / Mobilteknologi används allt oftare för att stödja elever i läraktiviteter utomhus. Till exempel, i ett växande antal forskningsprojekt, används mobiltelefoner och teknik för positionsbestämning som stöd för skolelever i att utforska naturen. Tidigare forskning har dock identifierat utmaningar med införandet av mobilteknologi i utomhuslektioner. En av de huvudsakliga utmaningarna är att interaktion med mobilteknologi i utomhuslektioner kan distrahera eleverna från att interagera med den fysiska omgivningen. Den här avhandlingen angriper den utmaningen ur ett människa-datorinteraktionsperspektiv, vägledd av följande frågeställning: Hur kan vi designa, utvärdera och reflektera över mobilteknologi för att interagera med den fysiska omgivningen i utomhuslektioner? I avhandlingen presenteras fyra designinterventioner bestående av utomhuslektioner i geometri och biologi, som låg till grund för att utveckla konceptuella designverktyg. Designverktygen utvecklades genom en koncept-driven designstrategi och utvärderades i fälttester med skolelever. Framtidsverkstad och Interaktionsanalys var de huvudsakliga metoder som användes. Resultaten från fälttesterna visar att mobilteknologin behöver utformas så att den kan orientera eleverna i interaktionen med den fysiska omgivningen. I linje med den koncept-drivna designstrategin, bidrar avhandlingen med tre designverktyg. De föreslagna designverktygen är: Designriktlinjer som är specifika nog för att vägleda utformningen av mobilteknologi för utomhuslektioner, en Designmodell för att utforma och utvärdera mobilteknologi för utomhuslektioner, och Designkoncept för att reflektera över hur mobilteknologi placeras och används i utomhuslektioner. Designverktygen föreslås som verktyg för att forskare och designers, som vill designa mobilteknologi för utomhuslektioner, ska kunna möta utmaningen i att mobilteknologin kan distrahera eleverna från att interagera med den fysiska omgivningen.

L’innovation pédagogique pour elle-même s’avère parfois discutable, mais elle se justifie quand les enseignants se heurtent aux difficultés d’apprentissage de leurs étudiants. En particulier, certaines notions de physique sont réputées difficiles à appréhender par les étudiants, comme c’est le cas pour l’effet photoélectrique qui n’est pas souvent compris par les étudiants au niveau collégial. Cette recherche tente de déterminer si, dans le cadre d’un cours de physique, la simulation de l’effet photoélectrique et l’utilisation des dispositifs mobiles et en situation de collaboration favorisent une évolution des conceptions des étudiants au sujet de la lumière. Nous avons ainsi procédé à l’élaboration d’un scénario d’apprentissage collaboratif intégrant une simulation de l’effet photoélectrique sur un ordinateur de poche. La conception du scénario a d’abord été influencée par notre vision socioconstructiviste de l’apprentissage. Nous avons effectué deux études préliminaires afin de compléter notre scénario d’apprentissage et valider la plateforme MobileSim et l’interface du simulateur, que nous avons utilisées dans notre expérimentation : la première avec des ordinateurs de bureau et la seconde avec des ordinateurs de poche. Nous avons fait suivre à deux groupes d’étudiants deux cours différents, l’un portant sur une approche traditionnelle d’enseignement, l’autre basé sur le scénario d’apprentissage collaboratif élaboré. Nous leur avons fait passer un test évaluant l’évolution conceptuelle sur la nature de la lumière et sur le phénomène de l’effet photoélectrique et concepts connexes, à deux reprises : la première avant que les étudiants ne s’investissent dans le cours et la seconde après la réalisation des expérimentations. Nos résultats aux prétest et post-test sont complétés par des entrevues individuelles semi-dirigées avec tous les étudiants, par des enregistrements vidéo et par des traces récupérées des fichiers logs ou sur papier. Les étudiants du groupe expérimental ont obtenu de très bons résultats au post-test par rapport à ceux du groupe contrôle. Nous avons enregistré un gain moyen d’apprentissage qualifié de niveau modéré selon Hake (1998). Les résultats des entrevues ont permis de repérer quelques difficultés conceptuelles d’apprentissage chez les étudiants. L’analyse des données recueillies des enregistrements des séquences vidéo, des questionnaires et des traces récupérées nous a permis de mieux comprendre le processus d’apprentissage collaboratif et nous a dévoilé que le nombre et la durée des interactions entre les étudiants sont fortement corrélés avec le gain d’apprentissage. Ce projet de recherche est d’abord une réussite sur le plan de la conception d’un scénario d’apprentissage relatif à un phénomène aussi complexe que l’effet photoélectrique, tout en respectant de nombreux critères (collaboration, simulation, dispositifs mobiles) qui nous paraissaient extrêmement utopiques de réunir dans une situation d’apprentissage en classe. Ce scénario pourra être adapté pour l’apprentissage d’autres notions de la physique et pourra être considéré pour la conception des environnements collaboratifs d’apprentissage mobile innovants, centrés sur les besoins des apprenants et intégrant les technologies au bon moment et pour la bonne activité. / The educational innovation itself is sometimes debatable but it is justified when the teachers confront the learning difficulties of their students. In particular, some notions of physics are notoriously hard for students to understand, as is the case for the photoelectric effect which is not often comprehended by the students at the college level. This research tries to determine if, as part of a physics course, the simulation of the photoelectric effect and the use of mobile devices in collaborative situations facilitate an evolution of the student’s conceptions about the concept of light. We have proceeded to develop a scenario of collaborative learning by integrating a simulation of the photoelectric effect on handheld devices (Pocket PC). The design of scenario was first influenced by our socioconstructivist vision of learning. We conducted two preliminary studies to complete our scenario of learning and to validate the platform « MobileSim » and the interface of the simulator used in our experiment. The first studies were completed with a simulation on computers and the second with a simulation on Pocket PC. After that, we carried out the experimentation with two groups of students. The control group was assigned to the traditional approach of teaching and the experimental group was assigned to the approach based on the developed scenario of collaborative learning. We have conducted a test twice to assess a conceptual change about the nature of light and about the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect and related concepts. The first test (pre-test) before the students are involved in the course and the second (post-test) after completion of experiments. Our results in the pre-test and post-test were completed by conducting semi-structured individual interviews with all students, by video recordings and recovered traces (on log files or on paper). Students in the experimental group obtained good results in the test compared to those of the control group. We noted an average gain of learning qualified at a moderate level according to Hake (1998). Interview results were used to identify some conceptual difficulties of student learning. Analysis of collected data from video sequences, questionnaires and recovered tracks allowed us to better understand the process of collaborative learning and has revealed that the number and the time of interactions between students are strongly correlated with the gain of learning. At first, this research project is a success in the designing of a learning scenario of a phenomenon as complex as the photoelectric effect and respects many criteria (collaboration, simulation, mobile devices, etc.) that it seemed for us extremely utopian to combine them in an effective learning situation in the classroom. For instance, this scenario could be adapted to the learning of other concepts in physics. It could also be considered for the design of collaborative environments for innovative mobile learning focused on the needs of learners that integrate the technologies at the right time and for the right activity.

There was a lack of knowledge about the user’s acceptance of smart devices as ubiquitous learning (u-learning) tools at higher education institutions in Sweden. As the mobile technology grows, the demand for mobile devices, particularly smart devices increases as well. With the increase in the usage of smart devices, the higher education institutions provide mobile learning platforms to attract more customers in the competitive industry of education. Thus, understanding the key factors from the perspectives of end-users is important for the institutions to survive in the competitive market. This study explores and explains Behavioral and Continuance intentions of students regarding the acceptance and usage of smart devices (Smartphones and Personal Digital Assistants or PDA) as u-learning tools. Key factors related to the users’ intentions to accept and continue using smart devices as u-learning tools were identified and hypothesized in the Swedish context. Ten hypotheses were suggested based on TAM, UTAUT, and ECT. To achieve the aim and objective of this study, a quantitative approach was chosen, and a survey strategy based on purposive and convenience sampling techniques were used. A web-based questionnaire on five-points Likert Scale was designed to collect the required data. 115 (96 valid) students answered the questionnaire. The collected data were used to conduct statistical operations in SPSS. Five hypotheses were supported, and the other five were not. The findings suggest that Performance Expectancy, Perceived Mobility value, Confirmation, and Satisfaction positively influence both Behavioral and Continuance Intentions of students to accept and continue using smart devices as u-learning tools. According to the findings, Confirmation and Satisfaction from ECT can be included as separate constructs in UTAUT and UTAUT2. Higher education institutions planning to have (and those that already have) learning platforms, compatible with smart devices, can benefit from the findings. Higher education institutions can also design their u-learning platforms according to the Performance Expectancy, Perceived Mobility value, Confirmation, and Satisfaction of the students. / Master program in Strategic-IT Management

L’essor des périphériques mobiles (ex. tablettes, smartphones) ainsi que leurs applications pédagogiques et ludiques ont contribué à la naissance des Jeux Éducatifs Mobiles (JEM). De nombreux chercheurs ont prouvé les effets positifs de ces JEM sur la motivation des apprenants et même sur certains apprentissages. Cependant, l’utilisation de JEM en contexte scolaire reste très limitée. En effet, les JEM existants, parfois assez coûteux, sont souvent conçus pour un domaine très spécifique, et n’offrent donc pas de possibilités de réutilisation. De plus, les outils auteur existants sont, soit riches en fonctionnalités mais nécessitent un investissement important des enseignants pour être pris en main, soit simples à utiliser mais ne permettent pas de concevoir des JEM qui répondent aux besoins pédagogiques. Pour s’attaquer à ces problématiques, nous proposons JEM iNVENTOR, un outil auteur de JEM, fondé sur une approche de conception gigogne, destiné aux enseignants, conservateurs de musée, ou toute personne non-informaticienne, qui souhaitent scénariser leurs propres JEM et les déployer sur les systèmes mobiles.Le modèle de conception gigogne a été validé par une série d’expérimentations auprès d’une vingtaine d’enseignants ayant des niveaux d’expertises et des domaines d’enseignement très variés. Nous avons également mené des expérimentations de terrain, auprès d’environ 1500 étudiants et élèves, afin d’évaluer la qualité des JEM créés avec JEM iNVENTOR ainsi que leur impact sur les apprenants. / The rise of mobile devices (e.g. tablets, smartphones) and their educational and recreational applications have contributed to the emergence of Mobile Learning Games (MLGs). Indeed, MLGs show great potential for increasing engagement, creativity and authentic learning. Yet, despite their great potential for education, the use of MLGs by teachers, remains very limited. This is partly due to the fact that MLGs are often designed to match a specific learning context, and thus cannot be directly reusable for other contexts. In addition, existing authoring tools are either feature-rich but require a significant investment by teachers to be used, or simple to use but do not offer enough features for the design of MLGs that meet pedagogical needs. To tackle these problems, we propose JEM iNVENTOR, a MLG authoring tool, based on a nested design approach, intended for teachers, museum curators, or any person without computer skills, wishing to script their own MLG and deploy them on mobile systems.The nested design model was approved through a series of experimentations with some twenty teachers from a wide range of expertise levels and teaching fields. We also conducted field experimentations with about 1500 students and pupils in order to evaluate the quality of MLGs created with JEM iNVENTOR as well as their impact on learners.