Technology Narratives and Mobile Spatial Learning

Over the last few years there has been a proliferation of location-sensitive applications and devices that can support mobile learning. The result is that learners have access daily to a wealth of spatial data. Yet, it is questionable as to whether this data is actually contributing to learning or whether learners are just overloaded with information. In this paper we propose that interaction with technology should be in the form of a narrative, where the learner can actively shape the format, mode and most importantly the context n which they learn. In this way we approach the concept of narrative not from the perspective of the way that a story is told, but rather with a focus on how the interaction with technology itself adopts a narrative structure. This involves thinking about mobile learning in a holistic manner and allowing for ambiguity and serendipity in how someone engages with media. In order to critically investigate this approach we will review three projects which we propose integrate a technology narrative and seek to describe how these different examples support learning.