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Claire O’Malley
BA PhD CPsychol AFBPsS
Professor of Learning Science
School of Psychology and Learning Sciences Research Institute
This page contains links to
information about my teaching and research within the LSRI and the School of
Psychology.
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Learning Sciences Research
Institute, |
Teaching
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Autumn |
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Research
Interests
My research interests are in the
application of psychological theories and methods to the design and use of
computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments. This
includes basic research on the development of collaboration in children and on understanding
the processes involved in effective collaborative learning. It also
involves designing CSCL environments that are underpinned by the psychology of
learning and evaluating their educational effectiveness. Another strand
to the research involves basic studies of human communication (verbal and
nonverbal) and applied studies of the impact of different media (e.g., video
links) on communication processes and collaborative task performance.
Much of my current research is in
collaboration with colleagues from computer science and engineering in the
interdisciplinary Mixed Reality
Laboratory (MRL).
Current
Research Projects
MOBILearn
is a European research and development project exploring context-sensitive approaches to informal, problem-based and
workplace learning using advanced mobile technologies. It is funded under
the EU 5th Framework Information Society Technologies
Programme.
SHAPE (Situating Hybrid Assemblies in
Public Environments) is a European research and development project aimed at designing and evaluating mixed
reality installations for collaborative exploration and learning in public
contexts such as museums and galleries. Three different public exhibitions have
been developed and evaluated in museums in Stockholm (Technical Museum),
Nottingham (Castle) and Limerick (Hunt Museum).
EQUATOR
is an EPSRC-funded Interdisciplinary Research Collaboration (IRC) between eight
institutions across the UK, which focuses on the integration of physical and
digital interaction, particularly for wireless, mobile and ubiquitous
applications. The University of Nottingham (Mixed Reality Lab)
is the lead partner. One of the research themes of EQUATOR is playing and
learning. Together with colleagues at the MRL, I have been involved
in the Hunting the Snark and Ambient Wood projects. Both concern the use
of tracking, mobile and wireless technologies to support collaborative
learning.
Recent Research Projects
Eye-2-Eye was a 3-year European research
and development project focusing on the development of evaluation methods,
guidelines and cost-benefit analysis tools for assessing fitness-for-purpose of
person-to-person communication technologies, including audio, video, avatar and
multimedia conferencing tools for fixed and mobile networks. A major goal
of the project was to carry out an extensive series of experiments in the
laboratory and field in order to produce empirical data on the impact of
different technical factors affecting quality of service on human communication
(task performance, attitudes, communicative processes). The project was
funded under the EU 5th Framework IST Programme and finished in
March 2003.
Kidstory was also a 3-year European
project funded under the EU 4th Framework ESPRIT I3
programme on Experimental Schools Environments. The aim of the project
was to develop and evaluate collaborative storytelling technologies for 5-8
year-old children. A key feature of the project was participatory design
with children and teachers at primary schools in the UK and Sweden.
Kidstory finished in September 2001. The project resulted in the
development of KidPad - shared storytelling software which is downloadable from
here.
Other technologies developed in the project included a 'magic carpet' for
navigation in KidPad.
Other recent research has focused
on the development of collaborative skills in young children (3-7 years).
In particular research has shown relationships between theory of mind and the
quality of collaborative play in 3-4 year olds, and between second order theory
of mind and peer tutoring in 7 year olds.
Created: 15 March 2000. Last Modified: 9 January 2004