Title: Simple and playful interaction for informal communication and learning

Authors: Kristina Groth, Cristian Bogdan, Sinna Lindqvist, Yngve Sundblad

Addresses: HCI, School of Computer Science and Communication, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden. ' HCI, School of Computer Science and Communication, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden. ' HCI, School of Computer Science and Communication, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden. ' HCI, School of Computer Science and Communication, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract: Teachers in general usually do not have one single office and they seldom have time for face-to-face interaction with their colleagues since they typically spend most of the time in a classroom. Teachers in rural areas have even less colleagues to interact with face-to-face. In our work with teachers in a rural area near Stockholm, in an archipelago school distributed over six islands, we have encouraged informal communication and learning through a digital notice board connecting all six units. This paper discusses three issues that we find important to focus on in our work; the role of shared interactive displays, simplicity and play as a social activity and the role of communication for informal learning.

Keywords: informal communication; informal learning; rural communities; playful interaction; shared interactive displays; Sweden; teaching; schools.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2007.015550

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2007 Vol.3 No.2/3, pp.191 - 208

Published online: 29 Oct 2007 *

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