Supporting learning in context: Extending learner-centered design to the development of handheld educational software

The emerging family of mobile devices presents new opportunities to design handheld tools that can support students within the context of their learning activities. In this paper we discuss the challenges of building handheld educational software and describe the design of Pocket PiCoMap, a learner-centered tool that supports concept mapping activities on handheld computers. By combining available research on the design of small interfaces with existing guidelines for developing learner-centered desktop software, we describe some of the design considerations and tradeoffs of developing learner-centered handheld software. We present initial design guidelines for balancing these constraints, describe their application to the development of Pocket PiCoMap, and discuss ongoing classroom tests of this software.