Design of a scrutable learning system

Personal Learning Environments (PLEs) refer to systems that allow individual learners to manage and control their own learning in their own space and at their own pace. In this work we explore the different ways in which a learning experience can be informal, and propose a 4D model of informal learning to characterise the informal aspects of a learning experience. The model includes dimensions for learning objectives, the learning environment, learning activities and learning tools, and reveals how much of the experience is really under the control of the learner. In an analysis of mobile tools presented in the mLearn 2008 conference we show that many emerging m-learning systems focused on informality in the environment dimension but not in the others. To solve this problem this report proposes a scrutable learning model approach that allows personal learners to take control of their learning objectives while still allowing the system to intelligently support them with appropriate learning activities and resources. In addition an experimental design is described based around a prototype of a scrutable learning system for mobile devices.