Using wearable technology to improve the acquisition of new literacies: a new pedagogical approach of situated individual feedback coming from the Activity Trackers and reflected upon in the ePortfolio

Abstract

In this paper we will show our research approach and discuss its potential outcomes. The research project started in January 2016 at the University of Hong Kong. To understand development of new literacies in higher education in Hong Kong, the researchers will conduct a multiple case study including 24 students from an undergraduate course, Bachelor of Science Exercise and Health. Each of them will use a wearable device over a period of five months, reflect on emerging personal data, document their thinking and action in an ePortfolio-based journal, and engage in an online forum. The ePortfolio, specifically developed for this research, will allow the students to critically reflect on their progress and for the researchers to intervene at any time on the issues related to the participants’ postings. Evidence regarding change in eHealth literacy as representation of new literacies at the beginning and end of the intervention will be collected with a well-established questionnaire. To understand the qualitative aspect of in eHealth and other new literacies, semi-structured interviews pre and post intervention will be conducted. Interviews and data from reflections and forum posts will be analyzed and triangulated to understand emerging issues influencing the development of the literacies. After establishing a case report for each of the participants a cross-case analysis will be performed. The study will deliver theoretical and practical recommendations for researchers, teachers and policy makers in higher education to track, support and explore development of the mentioned literacies. It will also investigate the applicability of the ePortfolio as a reflective and autonomous learning tool. Furthermore, it will create opportunity for further research on learning using emerging wearable technologies. Keywords: wearable technology, eHealth literacy, activity tracker, ePortfolio, new literacies