Technology Enhanced Learning (Week 5)

Today's topic was Technology Enhanced Learning and the presentation started a little late. After a while the group started and it was really incoherent, I did not really understand the explanations.

They also did not go into full details about the topic, instead they only explained the forms of TEL. It was not a comprehensive presentation, the only tangible lesson I got was the fold-able tablet they briefly spoke about.

The question session was also not explanatory because the presenters were giving wrong replies to the question. Over all, this presentation was neither educative nor enlightening; I guess I am thankful I went through the essential reading list.
Technology Enhanced Learning is basically learning supported using various forms of technologies. This can be grouped into ;

• E-learning: This is computer and network-enabled transfer of skills and knowledge. Its applications include Web-based learning, computer-based learning,virtual education opportunities and digital collaboration.
•  Intelligent Tutoring Systems: This is any computer system that provides direct customized instruction or feedback to students, i.e. without the intervention of human beings, whilst performing a task.
• Games-based Learning: This is the use of applications that have defined learning outcomes. These games balance the subject matter with the game-play and the ability of the player to retain and apply said subject matter to the real world.

There was another presentation about an Agricultural based game,Green Revolution, using Africulture  as a case study. The game is basically technology imitating life which shows how the members of community in sub-Saharan Africa live and their food production. The game takes into consideration all the normal activities that happen in a community. The game's environment is virtual and each player is a member of a household, who has responsibilities based on gender, as well as showing the various relationships in that community.

The presenters also explained the design process and the challenges and difficulties they are facing at different design stage. The game looks promising but I know I will not be playing it because it requires a lot of thought while playing.
After the presentations, I and my group members had a meeting to discuss the level of our readiness for our presentation, next week.This lasted for about an hour, I am really happy with my group members, they are so productive.

Below is the link for the slides of the above discussed presentation (Technology Enhanced Learning);

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=355215

These are the essential readings for this week;

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=340279

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=340281

 Here is the link for the Green Revolution presentation:
https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=361101

User Experience and Ubiquitous Computing (Week 4)

The presentations started today, I got in a little late, and the first group had started setting up. The first group's topic was "User Experience"; this is the group I said I was looking forward to their presentation.  Their presentation was really informative and educative, I was really happy with the level of information I got from the presentation. The great reward was being able to understand the difference between Usability and User difference.

I also appreciated the use of more relatable, realistic and common examples, making it easier for me to understand their points. It was a really great presentation. My group was selected to be the discussants for the User Experience group; we asked questions that are meaningful but too hard, we do not want to be crucified on the day we are presenting.

The  overall explanation of User Experience is the way a person feels about using a product, system or service.It involves a person’s perceptions of the practical aspects such as utility, ease of use and efficiency of the system.User experience is subjective in nature, because it is about an individual’s feelings and thoughts about the system. User experience is dynamic, because it changes over time as the circumstances change.

The second group, whose topic was “Ubiquitous Computing”, started their presentation and I immediately felt a sense of disconnection because I felt their topic was fun and interesting and the managed to make it boring and not too understandable.  The only part I appreciated was the Technology Controlled House example and the medical case of UbiComp. I also felt they did not use realistic and easily relatable examples, like the Euclid example was not needed, when they are thousands of relatable examples of UbiComp. All I all, I did not enjoy this presentation.
From my research, this was the best video to explain the power and usefulness of Ubiquitous Computing.

I enjoyed the first half of the presentations but the latter half was not too impressive. I also, I learnt what not to do while presenting from the second group; standing in front of the screen, and what to do while presenting from the first group.

Below are the links for the various presentations:

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=350640

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=350639

These are links for the key papers for the two topics;

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=335577

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=335514

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=331480

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=340753

Topic Introductions (Week 3)

Today's class was basically an introduction to the Week 4 topic, "User Experience", for the presenters of the topic as well as the whole class. We were given the essential readings for this topic and encouraged to learn more about this topic.

In Katie's explanation she defined User Experience as "The way people feel about a product or device and their pleasure and satisfaction when looking at it, using it, touching it, sharing it". This I believe is the total experience whether good or bad gotten when using a product.

The goals of every user experience vary from the good aspects, such as;

• Satisfaction
• Excitement
• Creativity
• Fulfilment

to the bad aspects, such as;

• Boredom
• Frustration
• Childishness

We also tried to differentiate between usability goals of a product and its user experience goals by giving examples as well as having a discussion about this. The group presenting this topic was advised to state clearly the definitions of User Experience and to give good examples of methods used to accomplish this.

I am particularly excited about this presentation because most of the guys in this group are good presenters.

Katie then started the introduction for the "Ubiquitous Computing" which could also be called "Calm Computing". This essentially means technologies that do not exist until when they are need. Example of this was the video shown about Haptic Wrist Watch which enables the user know if there is any activity in his Email box without being too obvious that the user is actually checking his Email box.I am really interested in learning more about this topic because this was the topic that 2 groups had to flip a coin for.


There was an introduction for "Technology Enhanced Learning"  which is basically any form of learning that is technology-assisted. This is a very broad topic with various aspects to it which includes E-Learning, Intelligence Tutoring Systems and Games-based Learning.
We then discussed the various theories involved with this topic, which includes;

• Behaviourist: This is the theory that is based on the belief that learning is the acquisition of new behaviours through conditioning. Users of this theory believe that learner should be given information, tested on this information and then rewarded accordingly.
• Cognitivist: It is believed that learning is an internal mental process and learning processes are designed with knowledge of  cognitive processes especially memory.
• Constructivist: This theory is based on the belief that knowledge can be constructed and not transferred from a teacher to a learner. An example is the use of plays as learning activities.                 

This topic is the one topic dear to my heart as I am more interested in the findings of the presenting groups as well learning more as I read the essential reading.

In all, Today's class was enlightening and I am looking forward to hearing the presentations. Here are the links for the introduction for all the above mentioned topics;

https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=347709
https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=347712
https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=345645 

Context (Week 2)

Class was moved from Fulton to Pevensey 1 today, and the topic was "Context". There was a general discussion about the word, its definition and how it can be used in different perspectives. 

It was defined as the environment or condition or situation where a circumstance occurred but its definition is also subject to its usage, hence, Context has a lot of definitions. It was shown that this particular word is the basis for Ubiquitous computing. Its relevance can be seen in a lot of areas which was sub-grouped into various stages which includes;

• During requirements gathering.
• During design.
• During evaluation.    

The nature of knowledge (ontology) and the ways of generation of knowledge (epistemology) determines how researchers view about context. These views can be classified into 2:

• Positivist: Dourish, P. (2004) explains that "Positivists theories seek to reduce social phenomena to essences or simplified models that capture underlying patterns", which simply means that Positivists believe that there is an underlying truth which can be discovered only through the use of scientific methods which involves the observation and measurement of phenomena.
• Phenomenological: Dourish, P. (2004) also stated that "Abstract categories ...are things that need to be imposed on the world through our interactions with it and with each other, rather than things that exist within it". This means that knowledge cannot be gotten by measuring phenomena only, findings must be subjectively interpreted and that accepted knowledge is an agreement of interpretations.

There was a discussion about the above stated views and if we agreed with them. Various papers were cited and explained, there was also an explanation of how Context related to a lot of themes which included Technology Enhanced Learning, HCI in the wild and Ubiquitous computing.

For a small word, Context has a vast definition and meaning. Although I understood the meaning I could not really grasp its application and the explanation of the different views (extra reading required).

I had a great time in class today, learnt a lot but I definitely need to go study more about this word and its use.

This is the most relatable example I could find and it really made me understand the whole idea of context.

Introductory Class (Week 1)

Today I went for HCCS Advanced Topic class at Fulton. I was actually skeptical about this course since I did not do HCI in the first term but I am keeping an open mind, after all I am here to learn.

First of all, the timing of the course is so wrong but I enjoyed seeing a young lecturer, now I am fired up to go do my own PHD course. I enjoyed the fact that the class was not too formal; hence, I felt relaxed and enjoyed the class. I sat with my friend and I made a new friend, Marie, I guess everything is going well.

The lecturer, Katie, started asking about our expectations for the course; I just explained that I am hoping to pass the course as I am still not sure if I made the right decision. She also asked what our fears were and a guy stated the obvious that we did not want to fail.

There was a brief description about the course and what to expect. She also told us to start the reflective diary and explained how assessments would be made. We were shared into groups and we chose our presentation topics. There was a funny scene when two groups were arguing over a particular topic which was resolved by flipping of a coin (I love the class already). Katie also gave us where to do our literature searches and where to get materials for further reading.

All in all, today was quite educative and entertaining and being open-minded with my course choice is actually paying off. I believe I would learn great things in this course and probably meet good people. I am also hoping to get an "A" in this course....................
Here is the link for the slides for this class;
https://studydirect.sussex.ac.uk/mod/resource/view.php?id=342906