Reaching Diverse Student Populations in Embedded Ubiquitous Educational Environments
Organized by Meg Cramer, Moderated by Gillian Hayes

Panelists: Tom Moher, UI Chicago; Walt Scacchi, UC Irvine; Roy Pea, Stanford; a representative from High Tech High School

The physical built environment in educational settings has profound implications for learning. Yet, many technologies for learning are simply re-appropriated computers built for business or home use.  This use of technology has seen minimal improvement for students, particularly for socially disadvantaged children for whom technology reform promised to level the playing field. In this panel, we will explore alternative embedded and ubiquitous computational environments in classrooms, schools and museums—taking seriously the impact of the physical instantiation of computation on the learning experience. These novel environments allow students to be immersed in dynamic learning experiences through tight integration of technology with physical space.

Panelists will explore key elements to creating and sustaining these learning environments and discuss how examining diverse cultures, pedagogies, and student populations impact the design and deployment of computational technologies in these environments. The panelists below will discuss how their projects individually cater to the needs of the urban, multilingual public school student body and communities of Chicago, Orange County, San Diego, and the Bay Area.

Panelists were chosen to represent a variety of learning environments (e.g., schools, museums) that all serve diverse, multi-cultural student populations. More on the event can be found at: http://dmlcentral.net/conference/