Inter-life: Interoperability and Transition
Duration: 2008 - 2011
Funder & Value: ESRC / EPSRC: £500,000
Details: The project is investigating the use of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to support skills development by young people to enhance their management of life transitions. It is developing a mobile and three-dimensional (3D) virtual community called 'Inter-Life'. Educational and social transitions have significant impacts on performance, motivation and identity formation. Inter-Life offers the opportunity for participants to work together on transition activities in the community, whether they are logged in, or using their mobile device away from the desktop. It provides reflective and personal development tools and scenarios for transitions, to demonstrate the flexibility and robustness of the educational and technical designs. In particular, the research focuses upon:
- User engagement, co-design, and development
- Identification of learning outcomes, processes, and skills acquisition
- Participant identity formation and development associated with Inter-Life usage
- Professional development of educators working in 3D communities
The project adopts mixed-method, technology-enhanced data gathering and analysis. Phenomenographic techniques are being used - analysing personal accounts of participants across a range of settings. The project is investigating identity development from an Activity Theory perspective, viewing identity as individual and social construct, rather than a fixed quality or 'given'. The project is possible because of the combined talents of our interdisciplinary team based at the Universities of Glasgow and Stirling, and also involving two highly respected expert consultants.
- Project Team Members at the University of Glasgow
- Project Team Members at the University of Stirling
- Project Consultants (External)
Project Team
University of Glasgow
Faculty of Education
St Andrews Building
11 Eldon Street
Glasgow G3 6NH
Vic Lally
Project Director and Principal Investigator
Vic is the founding Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research and Teaching in STEM Education at the University of Glasgow. Vic's research interests in learning in technology-enhanced contexts include Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) and learning in three-dimensional and mobile environments. He has written over 100 papers and articles, and been Director/co-director of 17 national and international projects, as well as editing/co-authoring 4 books. He has worked extensively in China and Europe, and is currently developing a collaborative professional development programme with colleagues in South Africa and Malawi. As Vic's latest project, 'Inter-Life' (ESRC/EPSRC – 2008-2011 under the Technology Enhanced Learning Programme) is a key investigation of the learning of life transition skills by young people, using highly innovative three-dimensional online tools and environments, and a range of analytical techniques that he has researched and developed in an extensive research programme.
Jane Magill
Co-investigator
Dr Jane Magill is Deputy Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research and Teaching in STEM Education and Director of the Robert Clark Centre for Technological Education at the University of Glasgow. A doctoral graduate in Chemical Physics from the University of Manchester, she has experience in academic and industrial research in materials science and semiconductor technology. She is involved in teaching and research in electrical engineering and more recently in STEM education, and is a lecturer in a degree programme for future technology teachers. Jane believes that public engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) is vital and works with many organisations to develop this area. She is a science specialist at the NESTA/DfES sponsored "Creative Science Teaching" Labs run by PAL, www.pallabs.org
Brian Canavan
Co-investigator
Dr Brian Canavan is a lecturer at the Robert Clark Centre for Technological Education at the University of Glasgow. An engineering designer for a number of years, working in various industrial sectors, including shipbuilding, pharmaceutical and petrochemicals, Brian subsequently studied at the University of Glasgow in both graduate and postgraduate capacities, culminating in his achieving a doctorate in Cognition and Educational Technology from the University's Faculty of Engineering. He has a range of experience in academic research including the evaluation of Information and Communication Technologies, problem-based-learning and reflective practice in learning. He also has a keen interest in issues relating to the development of the Technology and Science curriculum in Scotland and beyond and has published in a number of international conferences proceedings and journals.
Steve Brindley
Co-investigator
Stephen Brindley is a research fellow with the Interdisciplinary Centre for Research and Teaching in STEM Education at the University of Glasgow. Steve originally trained as a geologist, obtaining degrees from London and Sheffield universities, with around 12 years experience in various research and industry roles, including 5 years as a senior geologist in a service company for the oil industry. Steve is particularly interested in designing and evaluating strategies for learning and developing innovative projects that use a variety of different media and activities. This includes using interactive handsets to research impact and understanding of audiences -from university students to public and school pupils. Steve also holds a PGCE in secondary school science from Keele University. For the past 11 years has worked as an informal science education professional creating and delivering memorable science learning experiences for children and adults of all ages. This includes a number of outreach projects, local and national competitions, teacher CPD events, summer courses, and school festivals and events in public places. Steve also managed SETPOINT (West of Scotland), which he helped to set up and was part of the team that organised the Glasgow University Science Festival.
Jon Trinder
Technical developer and web manager
Jon is Chief Technician - Computing Support, in the Dept of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, having worked extensively in computing support across a wide range of industries and applications. Jon's Funded Projects have included work for the Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre: Portable Learning and Assessment – Towards Ubiquitous Education; University of Glasgow Chancellors Fund: handheld computer technologies to enhance access, flexibility, efficiency and effectiveness of course provision in higher education.
Stirling FK9 4LA
Department of Computing Science and Mathematics
University of Stirling
Evan Magill
Institutional Principal Investigator
Evan is a Professor within the Department of Computing Science and Mathematics at the University of Stirling. His research interests include Healthcare and Homecare, Wireless Sensor Networks, Home networks, Middleware, and Voice over IP.
Within Inter-life he will lead the work on integrating real devices, such as mobile phones, with devices in the virtual world. Currently Professor Magill is the institutional lead on the EPSRC funded project PAM. This project investigates the role of technology for the ambient monitoring of psychiatric patients at home. He is also an investigator in the SHEFC funded project MATCH. This studies the role of technology in assisting care in the home. He is an investigator with the EPSRC funded project. PROSEN. This is investigating wireless sensor networks within a wind farm setting. He is also the lead academic on a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) with Sysnet investigating the combination of P2P and mobiles technologies.
Professor Magill is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology (previously IEE) . He holds a PhD from the University of Strathclyde.
Mario Kolberg
Co-investigator
Mario is a lecturer within the Department of Computing Science and Mathematics at the University of Stirling. His research interests include Peer-to-Peer overlay networks, Home Automation, and IP Telephony.
Within Inter-life he is a co-investigator working on integrating real devices, such as mobile phones, with devices in the virtual world. Mario is also the academic supervisor in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership focusing on developing a Peer-to-Peer overlay for mobile handsets. Previously, he was leading a project funded by Panasonic (USA) investigating efficiency gains in structured Peer-to-Peer overlays. He is also a Co-Investigator in the MATCH project, focusing on integrating different network technologies for care in the home. He was leading an effort providing a proof-of-concept demonstrating the integration of digital pen and paper with networked appliances. He has been for extended research visits to Telcordia Technologies, NJ, USA, a leading presence in home automation, and Avaya Labs Research, NJ, USA, a leading internet telephony provider.
He is a Senior Member of the IEEE, and Co-Editor of the Feature Topic on Consumer Communication and Networking of the IEEE Communications Magazine. He holds a PhD from the University of Strathclyde.
Project Consultants
Mike Pomerantz (England)
M.pomerantz@sheffield.ac.uk
Michael Pomerantz is a senior educational psychologist with Derbyshire County Council and an Associate Tutor to the Doctoral Programmes in Educational Psychology at the University of Sheffield. His research interests include supervision, able underachievers, gifted and talented pupils, vulnerable and marginalised pupils, "hard to reach" students, experiential training, social justice, racial equality and knowledge construction. He has taught abroad in the United States, Singapore, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Ireland.
He has accepted recent commissioned research consultancies from Belle Wallace who was the president of NACE (National Association for Able Children in Education) and from Capita to write training materials about Dual Exceptionality for the National Primary and Secondary Strategies. The former project involved a team of researchers in the gifted and talented (G + T) field conducting a series of interviews with G + T co-coordinators, senior managers, pupils, parents and governors at a selected group of London based schools.. The published summary is now likely to be published as a book.
Mike's contribution to the Inter-Life Project will be to coordinate a Derbyshire based Research Community of young people helping to consult about the design and testing of websites and to make a series of short video clips depicting socially skillful solutions to overcoming vulnerability.
Maddy Sclater (Scotland)
mfslater@googlemail.com
Dr Madeleine Sclater has over twelve years' experience of researching at international level within the field of e-learning. Her current research is focused on developing and fostering creativity in professional learning within e-learning environments. Madeleine's professional work has involved extensive online teaching experience in Higher Education. She is currently engaged in the development of a new Masters level e-learning programme in Professional Development. She has worked with people across a wide range of disciplines (e.g. Art and Design, Social Work, Health, Product Design Engineering, Adult Education). In her work Madeleine has implemented novel pedagogical models, using Internet technologies, to support research and the advancement of creativity and innovation among academics, professional practitioners and learners. She holds an interdisciplinary PhD from the Digital Design Studio (DDS) at Glasgow School of Art and HATII (Humanities Advanced Technology And Information Institute) (2007) in the fields of Education, New Technology, and Art and Design.
