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Becta is pleased to announce that ‘Emerging technologies for learning- volume 3’ has just been published. This follow-up edition complements the first two ‘Emerging technologies for learning’ publications from 2006 and 2007.

The ‘Emerging technologies for learning’ series aims to help readers consider how emerging technologies may impact on education and learners in the medium term. The publications are not intended to be a comprehensive review of educational technologies, but offer some highlights across the broad spectrum of developments and trends. It should open readers up to some of the possibilities that are developing and the potential for technology to transform our ways of working, learning and interacting over the next three to five years.

Copies can be downloaded from www.becta.org.uk/research/reports/emergingtechnologies

This latest publication includes the following articles:

• Growing up with Google - what it means to education (Diane Oblinger, EDUCAUSE)
• Mobile, wireless, connected - information clouds and learning (Mark van’t Hooft, Kent State University)
• Location-based and context-aware education - prospects and perils (Adam Greenfield, NYU)
• Emerging trends in serious games and virtual words (Sara de Freitas, SGI)
• ‘If it quacks like a duck…’ - developments in search technologies (Emma Tonkin, UKOLN)
• Interactive displays and next generation interfaces (Michael Haller, Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences)

Growing up with Google: what it means to education
Diana Oblinger explores the ‘net generation’ who can seamlessly move between their real and digital lives. Their behaviours, preferences and expectations may be very different from those of their teachers. Diana examines the characteristics of these learners, the possibilities offered by new technologies and the skills that an education system needs to provide for the 21st century. She also argues that we need to adapt to this rapidly evolving context and goes on to explore the implications for learning space design, assessment and learning and teaching.

Mobile, wireless, connected: information clouds and learning
Mark van’t Hooft looks at the implications for education of the convergence of mobile devices, pervasive wireless connectivity, and internet applications and services. These are redefining the way we live, play, work and learn, creating new opportunities for rich, personalised experiences. Mark describes some examples of how these technologies are being used to transform learning and discusses the barriers and issues to their effective use. He warns that formal education risks becoming less relevant if we don’t take advantage of the new opportunities for learning enabled by these developments.

Location-based and context-aware education: prospects and perils
Location- and context-aware systems are expected to become increasingly pervasive in the near future, and here Adam Greenfield discusses some of the potential issues and pitfalls around implementation and reliance on such technologies. Adam then goes on to explore the potential of these technologies which could mean ‘nothing less than a reappraisal of what we mean when we say ‘education’.’

Emerging trends in serious games and virtual worlds
Sara de Freitas looks at the development of virtual worlds and ‘serious games’ and how we can make best use of these technologies to support better learning. They may help tackle ‘the gulf between learners’ experiences with technology inside and outside formal education’. She also examines the links to internet trends, web 2.0 and collaborative learning. Through discussion of the existing research and examples of the educational use of virtual worlds and serious games, Sara explores the potential of these technologies and the implications for education more widely.

‘If it quacks like a duck…’ - developments in search technologies
Emma Tonkin examines the problem of finding and searching digital content on the web and the limitations of current systems. She explores some of the technology developments that are beginning to address these issues, such as the semantic web, data mining, multimedia search and context-aware systems. Despite advances that offer great potential for learning through faster and more flexible access to the right information, there remains a clear role for educators and a need for better information literacy.

Interactive displays and next-generation interfaces
Michael Haller explores the potential of some emerging display and interface technologies to improve interaction with computers and facilitate collaborative activities in more natural and intuitive ways. He takes an in-depth look at interactive touch displays, drawing on both his own research and wider developments in the field. Michael also discusses the qualities of these technologies that make them appealing, and the potential benefits for the classroom.