Handheld Learning - learning with mobile and ubiquitous technologies

  I am currently researching into the use of mobile phones for language learning. I have been looking at both general native language learning theory(L1) and second language acquisition (L2). The first thing that strikes me from Vygotsi is the "Zone of Proximal Development". This suggests to me that learners who have no access to teachers or trainers, that is learners using learning content individually need to have access to a network of peers in order to make their learning more effective. In this instance is effective independent L2 learning using a mobile device a function of their network? If this is correct should L2 or indeed all mobile learning module designs have a social aspect added? If anyone is doing or has done research into this area perhaps they could point me to some papers.

Many thanks

a great social online environment for learning sharing and colab - is secondlife http://secondlifegrid.net/programs/education

its not just a game. There are dedicated schools within the environment too.

If you're interested in using virtual worlds as a teaching and learning environment, you should check out Edusim (http://edusim.greenbush.us), which is a free educational platform built on the open-source Croquet virtual world application.  You can view a video of Edusim in use here: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/uVFsxev-2sk&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/uVFsxev-2sk&rel=0</a>

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/uVFsxev-2sk&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/uVFsxev-2sk&rel=0</a>

What particularly interests me as a mobile learning researcher is the potential of virtual worlds to connect people via mobile devices.  Because Croquet is Open Source, it's ever-more likely that virtual world environments will soon be deployable on mobile devices, and already (if you want to) you could deploy Croquet and Edusim on a tablet PC or UMPC for a "direct interaction" experience (instead of using a Smartboard).  I imagine we'll start seeing the first immersive, connected virtual worlds on smartphones and handheld game consoles in the next year or two...