Young citizens: Literacy and participation in new media ecologies

In recent decades, digitization, digital technology and the expansion of the Internet have resulted in significant changes in media ecology. Important consequences of these developments concern the socialization of new generations, where the values, skills and identities of young people are shaped through their participation in a range of online activities. One important consequence of the use of Internet and digital resources is that academic learning no longer is restricted to the school. Neither does it mainly imply being able to reproduce what is already known. In Studio 3 the focus of the research is on alternative settings for learning where digital technology plays a significant role.

The focus of LETStudio 3 is to shed light on the consequences of these transformations that are currently underway and that are visible in many learning settings. The focus of the work is both on learning and literacy practices outside schools, and on how schools adapt to and may make use of these developments. The intention is to move beyond reproducing what is already known and instead to shed light on alternative settings and ways of learning where digital technology plays a significant role.

The research within Studio 3 falls within three domains. Each of these domains contains several cases.

1. Mobile tech in everyday learning

• Case 1a:Mobile technologies and learning in science centres (MobSci)
• Case 1b: Mobile technologies and learning about nature in nature (NIN)
• Case 1c: Mobile devices in tiny hands

 2. Social media practices

• Case 2a: Linguascapes - Language learning in social media worlds
• Case 2b: Special education
  Personalization of digital resources
  City planning and participation of young citizens

3. Tools for virtual science learning

• Case 3a:Inquiry-to-insight (I2I) – Investigating environmental problems and finding solutions: A testbed for virtual learning
• Case 3b: VirtualLab