In my last post I included excerpts of a paper I have written looking at the development of a Work Oriented MoBile Learning environment (WOMBLE). One of my main interests in such a system is the ability to support contextual learning in different environments. However that poses the problem of developing a model of context. And, I think, such a model needs to be based on a true ontology, rather than merely developing taxonomical lists of, for instance, different competences.

Last night I was discussing this in the pub (a rich contextual environment for learning!) with my friend and colleague Pekka Kamarainen. he came up with the following model – which he calls ‘dimensions of contextual images’ – based on the work of the German sociologist, Ritsert.

Pekka identified three main dimensions of context:

• location
• social meaning
• horizons of practice

Each of these dimensions can be further divided into three categories:

• normal
• extended
• transformative

Taking the dimension of practice this could be developed along the following schema:

• Normal – what I do in this location
• extended – what are the rules and norms which apply in this location
• transformative = what could be done in another way

Similarly for social meaning:

• normal- everyday life meanings
• extended – citizenship or societal meaning
• transformative – potentials for societal change

And for practice:

• normal – what do I do knowing the basic tenets and operations of this practice
• extended – what do I know about this practice as a more holistic design
• transformative – how can this practice be transformed

I am aware that it all sounds a little abstract. But I think such a model could form the basis for an advanced learning design, capable of being implemented through mobile, ambient and context aware devices.