An Autobiographical Narrative Using Application-Based Information and Resources" (2016)
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University of Northern Colorado Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC Dissertations Student Research 5-9-2016 Outdoor Education and Mobile Learning: an Autobiographical Narrative Using Application- Based Information and Resources Ivan Nikolaeff Follow this and additional works at: http://digscholarship.unco.edu/dissertations Recommended Citation Nikolaeff, Ivan, "Outdoor Education and Mobile Learning: an Autobiographical Narrative Using Application-Based Information and Resources" (2016). Dissertations. Paper 332. This Text is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Research at Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholarship & Creative Works @ Digital UNC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. © 2016 IVAN NIKOLAEFF ALL RIGHTS RESERVED UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO Greeley, Colorado The Graduate School OUTDOOR EDUCATION AND MOBILE LEARNING: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NARRATIVE USING APPLICATION-BASED INFORMATION AND RESOURCES A Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Ivan Nikolaeff College of Education and Behavioral Sciences Department of Educational Technology May 2016 This Dissertation by: Ivan Nikolaeff Entitled: Outdoor Education and Mobile Learning: An Autobiographical Narrative Using Application-based Information and Resources has been approved as meeting the requirement for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in College of Education and Behavioral Education, Department of Educational Technology Accepted by the Doctoral Committee ____________________________________________________ Mia Kim Williams, Ph.D., Research Advisor ____________________________________________________ David Kendrick, Ph.D., Committee Member ____________________________________________________ Christine Kyser, Ed.D., Committee Member ____________________________________________________ Steven Pulos, Ph.D., Faculty Representative Date of Dissertation Defense . Accepted by the Graduate School ____________________________________________________________ Linda L. Black, Ed.D. Associate Provost and Dean Graduate School and International Admissions ABSTRACT Ivan Nikolaeff. Outdoor Education and Mobile Learning: An Autobiographical Narrative Using Application-based Information and Resources. Published Doctor of Philosophy dissertation, University of Northern Colorado, 2016. Although mobile learning using smartphones and applications or apps have the potential to inform and educate individuals in an outdoor environment, users may find that connectivity issues and basic knowledge of outdoor environments, including both physical and emotional, could be limited by what this technology provided. This study provided my perspective as both participant and researcher on a journey over 150 miles on the Colorado Trail, using my iPhone as my primary tool for navigation and information for learning how to survive in an outdoor environment. From the beginning, the physical effects were difficult to overcome, but it was the psychological toll that became my greatest obstacle and the one element where mobile learning in the outdoor environment proved to have the greatest value. While this was one perspective, in a single study, by one participant, in which mobile learning in an outdoor environment took place, there were several themes that developed in regards to data connection, the use of fluid apps, the usefulness of static apps, and the restrictions of power in rural mountainous environments. These themes were emphasized to help future researchers further develop this information to help in the continued development of outdoor education using mobile learning. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my loving family, Jamie my wife and Lindsay and Spencer my daughter and son. You are my main motivation. I would also like to thank my advisor Dr. Mia Williams, who reassembled a very broken dissertation, and my advisory committee, Dr. Pulos, Dr. Kyser, and Dr. Kendrick. In addition, thank you University of Northern Colorado Graduate School, my prior advisors, prior committee members, and Keyleigh Gurney. There is a small piece of everyone written into this study. Finally, I would like to thank and praise my editor, Judieth Hillman who always worked with short deadlines. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................1 No Outdoorsman ..........................................................................................1 The Idea .......................................................................................................3 Background ..................................................................................................7 Outdoor Learning .......................................................................................12 Definitions..................................................................................................15 Narrative Voice ..........................................................................................17 II. ACT I--INABILITY ..................................................................................18 Inability ......................................................................................................18 Inability Discussion: The Researcher’s Analysis of Act I .........................55 Act I Analysis Introduction ............................................................55 Physical Condition .........................................................................56 Connectivity ...................................................................................57 Power Management .......................................................................61 Psychology of Loneliness in the Outdoors ....................................63 Applications ...................................................................................64 Adaptive Learning .........................................................................66 III. ACT II--COMPREHENSION ...................................................................69 Comprehension ..........................................................................................69 Comprehension Discussion: The Researcher’s Analysis of Act II ............98 Act II Analysis Introduction ..........................................................98 Connectivity ...................................................................................99 Psychology of Loneliness in the Outdoors ..................................100 Adaptive Learning .......................................................................100 Applications .................................................................................101 v CHAPTER IV. ACT III--MASTERY ...............................................................................103 Mastery ....................................................................................................103 Mastery Discussion: The Researcher’s Analysis of Act III .....................120 Act III Analysis Introduction .......................................................120 Pinnacle ........................................................................................121 Experiential Learning to Scaffolded Knowledge .........................122 Summary of the Findings .........................................................................126 Mental Awareness ........................................................................126 Navigation ....................................................................................128 Adaptability..................................................................................130 Connectivity .................................................................................131 Augmentation ...............................................................................132 Public Sourcing ............................................................................133 Hardware ......................................................................................134 Revelation ....................................................................................140 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................142 APPENDICES A. Method .....................................................................................................160 B. Institutional Review Board Approval ......................................................171 C. Pilot Study Maxwell Falls ........................................................................173 D. Equipment List .........................................................................................201 E. Map of My Travel ....................................................................................207 F. Literature Review.....................................................................................209 vi LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Kolb’s Experiential Learning Cycle ..........................................................12 vii LIST OF PHOTOS Photo 1. Waterton Canyon Trailhead .......................................................................19 2. Goal Zero Nomad Solar Panels..................................................................20 3. Waterton Canyon Map Near Trailhead ......................................................21 4. Backpack ....................................................................................................23