We visited the Oulu University Teacher Training School (OUTTS) and were introduced to the UBIKO (ubiqutous technology enhanced learning) project by Heikki Kontturi. UBIKO is a pedagogical development project, consisting of 110 4th and 5th graders working with their teachers. The aim is to create a learning environment and teaching/studying culture that promotes Collaborative learning and enhancing the students Self-regulated learning skills.
3D Drawing of UBIKO-unit by Heikki Luminen
Question 1: How do you perceive/see the UBIKO environment?
The learning environment in UBIKO offers modularity with easily movable walls and furniture. This allows for easy modification of the environment. Another distinct feature is the many communal studying places offered, along with some individual work areas. Everything from acoustics, to colors and carpeting is being taken into consideration for optimal learning environment design.
UBIKO is not just about developing the environment, the underlying pedagogy is the most important part – and the reason for developing the learning environment. The pedagogical goals are to promote SRL in the students, develop teamwork among teachers, develop the curriculum and to enrich multi-locational learning in schools.
Question 2: How are the UBIKO ideas transferable to other context? Choose the context.
Previous knowledge is not always easily transferable to other contexts (Bransford & Scwartz, 1999). The question I asked of Heikki was how are the ideas from UBIKO transferable to an environmet for adult learners (workplace or university for example). It seems that the underlying ideas of UBIKO are very transferrable to different contexts. The key is not to copy whats being done here exatly, but modify it for the needs of other contexts. The ideas about promoting active learning, offering collaborative learning spaces and the ability to modify the environment can all be valid in adult learning and the work place also.
References
Bransford, J. D. & Schwartz, D. L. (1999). Chapter 3: Rethinking Transfer: A Simple Proposal With Multiple Implications. Review of Research in Education, 24(1), 61–100. DOI:10.3102/0091732X024001061
Synapsifier in the Sky 
Hi Joni and thank you for the Ubiko posting
Really, the main thing is to understand how people learn, and then, any environment can be used pedagogically meaningful ways. Your perceptions address to different qualities that environment affords for pupils and teachers; different modalities, which we use in learning. It is really important to take them into consideration 🙂
Pirkko
Hello, this is Lara. I am currently doing an internship in the LET unit and one of my tasks is it to comment on the LET students’ blogs. You might remember me from fall 2013 when I studied some courses with you as an exchange student. I am a student myself in a programme similar to LET (Educational Technology in Saarland University, Germany) and I hope I am able to give you some feedback on your blog from a peer-perspective.
I’d like to share my thoughts on your blog posts of this year.
Content:
Almost a this year’s post is your report about the UBIKO visit. I like how you think about the underlying pedagogy of the UBIKO environment and evaluate it in terms of support for e.g. collaborative learning. I agree with you, that not just creating a fancy, modern environment is what counts, but how you integrate that environment with your educational goals. I also like your note of adapting an environment to the needs of the specific characteristics of learners. You’ve done a good job describing and reflecting about UBIKO and I appreciate that you base yourself upon scientific literature and cite accordingly.
Though I only have positive words towards this post, I wonder a bit why this has been the only post in a long time.
Technical implementation:
Your blog as a whole makes a really good impression: You include diagrams to illustrate and explain content; you make use of appropriate paragraphs which make your posts easy to read. In the future, you could enrich your posts more with media such as videos or pictures to make your blog even more appealing for your readers.
Conclusion:
I like your posts and I think you do a really good job in blogging, unfortunately the amount of (more recent) posts is scarce. Please update your blog more often and report about your (learning) experiences.
Best regards,
Lara