Ubiquity and Context-Aware M-Learning Model: A Mobile Virtual Community Approach

This paper presents a new adaptive m-learning model supporting collaborative and context-aware learning. A seamless integration between learners' location information and a set of associated learning context dimensions is used to facilitate the provision of pervasive and ubiquitous learning services. The new model adopts nearest search algorithm in order to group spatially related mobile learners, constructing learning-oriented virtual communities and achieving a collaborative learning experience. The presented model implements two virtual community construction modes, described as client-based and server-based collaboration modes. A preliminary evaluation methodology was conducted, measuring the successful implementation of the proposed new model, and confirming the establishment of the virtual community after considering a set of learning context dimensions; such as learning collaboration type, learning style and learners' location information. Results have confirmed that both collaboration modes were successful in establishing the virtual communities between mobile learners. However, the server-based mode was more scalable than client-based mode while handling the increased number of mobile peers, in which less response time was experienced and a smaller learning grid area was formed.