This document summarizes four research articles about using mobile computers and cognitive tools to scaffold collaborative learning in different contexts. The contexts studied were the workplace, nature, and a university. Case studies were conducted with groups of 10 workers, 22 students in nature, and 22 university students. The studies examined how social software and mobile devices supported collaborative learning activities in everyday settings over long periods of time.

1. Introduction
Mobile computers Everyday contexts
Scaffolding collaborative learning Workplace, Nature, University
with cognitive tools based Based on workshop paper (Earli
SIG 6 & 7, 2004) Professional Community, K12-
students, Higher Education students
on mobile computers
Laru, J., Järvelä, S. (2004). Scaffolding different learning activities with
mobile tools in everyday contexts, a paper presented at EARLI SIG
7: “Learning and Instruction with Computers” July 7–9, 2004,
Tuebingen, Germany.
Case study I Case study II Case study III
workplace (n=10) Nature (n=22) University (n=22)
EMI ILE RPTEL X
+
accepted re-submitted
ms, extended
conference paper ms
?
(CSCL09)
Article III: Laru, J., Näykki, P., Järvelä, S. Article IV: Laru, J., Näykki, P., & Järvelä, S.
Article I. Laru, J., & Järvelä, S. (2008a). Social Article II. Laru, J., Järvelä, S. & Clariana, R.
(manuscript). Does social software fit for all? (manuscript). “What did they really do with
patterns in mobile technology mediated (re-submitted). Supporting collaborative
Examining students’ profiles and activities in the social software and mobile devices? A
collaboration among members of the inquiry during a biology field trip with
collaborative learning mediated by social software. temporal analysis of long-term technology
professional distance education community. ubiquitous tools for learning. A case study
Manuscript is based on conference paper: Laru, J., mediated collaboration”.
Educational Media International. Vol. 45, No. 1, with K-12 learners. Re-submitted to
Näykki, P., & Järvelä, S. (2009). “Does social
March 2008, 17–32. Interactive Learning Environments.
software fit for all?” Examining students’ profiles
and activities in collaborative learning mediated by