Indoor LocationTechnologies

for Assessing Area Occupation in Preschool Environments

Cistina Mesquita, Rui Pedro Lopes

Introduction

IntroductionStructure

Introduction

An Enabling Environment

Indoor Positioning Systems

Activity Recognition Models

Final Remarks

IntroductionLearning Process Quality

Early childhood education demands a constant attention anddedication in order to maintain or increase the learning processquality

IntroductionLearning Process Quality

• The education process involves many actors andtechniques

• One important factor is the existence of specific activityareas

• Influencing the quality of an early education program and• Contributing to the child development

IntroductionActivity Areas

• The activity of children is an indicator of the success of theactivity areas

• Analyzing the time spent in each area• The sequence followed• The colleagues• The overall pattern

• 20 to 24 children makes it very difficult to maintain a record• Indoor Positioning Systems

An Enabling Environment

An Enabling EnvironmentContext of Interaction

The layout, size, materials and design features influence thequality of an early education program and contribute to the childdevelopment

An Enabling EnvironmentContext of Interaction

• Cognitive development takes place in the context of theinteractions

• With the others• With the environment• As an active participant

• Young children learn through play and• By exploring and interacting with their environment

An Enabling EnvironmentContext of Interaction

• Preschool programs subdivide classrooms into physicallywell defined activity areas

• These permit small groups of children to engagesimultaneously in different activities

• Supporting uninterrupted self-directed play and exploration• Specifically designed and constructed to support active

learning

An Enabling EnvironmentContext of Interaction

An Enabling EnvironmentContext of Interaction

• The use of these tools requires time to observe• Compromised by the interaction that educators have to

keep with the 20 or 25 children in the room• Automated tools can provide helpful instruments• Acquiring and registering several important details

Indoor Positioning Systems

Indoor Positioning SystemsSatellite Based

• Location services are widely used in several applicationsand scenarios

• fleet tracking• geofencing• navigation• robotics• recreation

• Satellite based systems, such as GPS, does not work wellindoor

• Different technology is necessary for this applications

Indoor Positioning SystemsDifferent Technologies

Alternatives are based on different technologies:• Wireless Systems• Non-radio Systems

Indoor Positioning SystemsWireless Systems

• Relies on radio waves for distance calculation• Can use the time signals spend traveling• The angle difference• The signal strength

Indoor Positioning SystemsNon-radio Systems

• Rely on a set of physical characteristics and effects• Speed of propagation of mechanical waves in the air• Generated of natural magnetic fields• Accelerometers and gyroscopes for Inertial Navigation

Systems

Activity Recognition Models

Activity Recognition ModelsDynamic Environments

• Classroom areas are important to define themes andexperiments children use

• It is important to assess• When children move• Where are they going• How much time they spend on each area• Their colleagues

• It is very difficult for kindergarten teachers to maintain adetailed record

• Automatic activity recognition system can provide avaluable help

Activity Recognition ModelsDynamic Environments

• Identify the actions and goals of one or more subjects• Relying on data collected by sensors and on environmental

conditions• The sensors should be as inconspicuous and simple to

install as possible• Cost should be low• Wearable sensors are a possibility

Final Remarks

Final Remarks

• Automatic activity recognition models can be used inresearch and evaluation

• The results can be analyzed by kindergarten teachers• It could be an excellent resource for professional

development• They could assess strengths and areas for improvement• Examine the relationship between program practices and

children’s development• Analyze questions of gender and diversity• Improve the quality of the early childhood program