Cooperation begins: Encouraging critical thinking skills through cooperative reciprocity using a mobile learning game

• The learning activity is a MR-based serious game with a classroom feedback session.
• We explore collaborative approaches to develop critical thinking skills.
• Solo learners performed less well than pair learners in critically linking ideas.
• Collaborative learning was more effective when cooperative reciprocity was allowed.
• Mobile & blend learning design can be configured to foster cooperative reciprocity.

Mobile learning has the advantage of being able to be used within and between contexts and can also be seamlessly integrated into broader learning experiences that include other forms of learning. Such experiences can assist in the development of cognitive and collaborative skills by encouraging learners to work together to solve problems, see others' perspectives and cooperatively find creative and critical solutions. This paper describes a serious mobile learning game designed to allow participants to play the role of business consultants to an organisation facing some serious challenges. It uses mixed reality resources to lead the players through a realistic scenario, providing them with physical, cognitive and collaborative challenges. Following mobile learning, the learners demonstrate their critical insights into the learning content by creating a consulting presentation in the classroom. Our study contrasts group cooperation where each learner is given asymmetric learning contents, with a cooperative group with two single learners given symmetric (identical) learning contents. We present the results of an experiment designed to measure the effectiveness of asymmetric learning content in fostering cooperative critical thinking, as examined by content and conversation analysis whilst preparing the consulting presentation. We found that the implicit cooperation condition – cooperative reciprocity, triggered by the asymmetric learning contents - was important for maximising critical thinking skills.

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