Knowledge Sharing in a Higher Education Context: the Role of Mobile and Grid/p2p Technologies

M-learning mainly addresses informal learning aiming at the creation of knowledge outside curricula or courses. In this paper we present an investigation into whether and how a formal structure like a university can promote and guide informal learning. A mobile infrastructure allows learners to overcome space/time difficulties and to enter in a virtual community in which individuals share some learning interests. Among the technical facilities required to fulfill such a vision, a special relevance is assumed by ubiquitous wireless networks to support wide area and local collaborative activities. In our view, a grid/peer-to-peer based infrastructure can be effectively built upon pervasive wireless networking to obtain an active knowledge sharing environment blending many heterogeneous services and the different end-user devices and goals.