Purpose

More collaborative and open learning models are suggested as part of the paradigm shift in the way knowledge is produced, distributed and used. This paper aims to explore a work-based learning model, based on systemic negotiations between actors from the three parties: The academy, the industry and the students. The purpose is to investigate how teachers, supervisors and students value negotiated work-based learning as a boundary activity and to enhance the understanding of the learning potential at the boundary.

Design/methodology/approach

Activity theory is used as a lens to analyse the results from a survey to the three stakeholder groups and interviews of students. The four learning mechanisms are used to explore learning at the boundary between the two activity systems.

Findings

Diversity and mobility in education and work addressed by the notion of boundary crossing are associated with both challenges and a learning potential. There is a constant dynamic between structure and agency, where structure, the negotiated model, influence the individual agency. When gradually removing scaffolding students can as boundary crossers engage behaviourally, emotionally, and cognitively and have agency to handle contradictions at a local level. However, they did not seem to prioritize both systems equally but instead they were gradually socialised into the activity system of the industry.

Originality/value

When work-based learning is framed by a negotiated partnership it can manage and customize inherent conflicts of interest and enhance individual learning opportunities at the boundary and can be conceptualized as an open learning practice.

This paper describes the rationale behind the concrete steps how we systematically have gone through the case selection process as the first phase of a research project named Consequences of the Digitalization of Schools. The project is a single-case longitudinal (5-year long) study and adopts a so called Whole-School Approach. Previous research has criticized case studies for lack of both systematic approach and transparency in the presentation of the case selection process. The purpose of the presentation of this case selection process is to contribute to enhancing understanding of and broadening knowledge on systematic and transparent case selection techniques. The SIRIS database has been used to select a typical Swedish primary school in the chosen municipality where the project will be conducted. The SIRIS database contains annually statistics from all primary schools in Sweden, and is available online for public use. We demonstrate how and why a particular school representing a so called typical school was selected as our case. 

The deployment of ICT in school setting is in many ways a complex managerial task that involves several stakeholder groups. Firstly, principals and deans have to relate to the local, regional, national, and international policies and governing systems. Furthermore, the voices of teachers, students and their parents have to be considered and negotiated. In this paper, we explore how school principals’ and municipal IT-managers’ perceive the usefulness and the potential role that ICT play in the school context. In a pilot study of a single school district in a Swedish municipality, we have interviewed representatives from the municipal board of education, the municipal IT-support for schools, and two principals. By using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM3) as an analytical lens to understand the two constructs of “Perceived usefulness” and the possible role of ICT, we conclude that the barriers for successful integration of IT into educational practices requires firstly overcoming the lack of coordinated ICT investment strategy and tracking of ICT. This can be done by having a clearly articulated ICT policy distributed to school staff which we argue will positively influence the perceived usefulness as expressed by principals and their governing body. Secondly, inclusion of ICT in all aspects of teachers’ professional school activities will bring change to school activities and processes.

In nowadays increasingly ICT-related investments in an overgrowing competitive school setting, the deployment, maintenance, and particularly the effective use of ICT is in many ways a complex multifaceted managerial task involving several stakeholder groups. In a pilot study of a single school district in a Swedish municipality, we have interviewed representatives from the municipal board of education, the municipal IT-support for schools, and two principals. We have used Technology Acceptance Model (TAM3) as our analytical lens to explore how school principals’ and municipal IT-managers’ perceive ICT adoption, usefulness, and the potential role of ICT. We conclude that the barriers for a successful integration of ICT into school-related activities requires a holistic managerial thinking in order to overcome the lack of coordinated ICT investment strategy and tracking of ICT.

Since 2003 the University West in Sweden offers distance courses in Social work and Social pedagogy. The three year program is given in collaboration with a number of local learning centers throughout the country. The technology of videoconferencing enables the teacher to interact with students even though they are separated geographically.

The study deals with this kind of education seen from the perspective of both students and teachers. The main objective is to illuminate significant aspects of this kind of phenomenon in terms of how students and teachers describe and experience problems and potential embedded in this model. The discussion rests on four overall questions:

1) What are the motives for students to choose this kind of education?

2) What kind of expectations did the students have before they started the program?

3) How do students experience/describe strengths and weaknesses connected to this model?

4) What experiences do the teacher's have working with this kind of distance education?

The empirical data has been collected using mainly group interviews and observations. The analysis rests heavily on theories concerning symbolic interactionism and socio-cultural learning. The study underlines that both students and teachers embrace the potential in this form of education, giving more groups the possibility of combining their studies with a sense of regional belonging. However the interviews and observations also reveal weaknesses with this kind of educational model. There is a risk that students at the local learning centers consider themselves as being excluded by teachers and other students at campus; and that the gap between the university and the local learning centers becomes too wide. To prevent this from happening communication and confirmation from the teacher is crucial. But eventhough this scrutiny identifies weaknesses within the technology of videoconferencing, technology alone does not determine the outcome of the teaching. If a teacher manages to show great engagement and structure, this functions as a mechanism weakening the barrierof technology. At the same time it is clear that the model of videoconferencing, from a teacher perspective, can be an obstacle, which emphasizes the importance of developing the technology further and how this technology is being handled by the teacher.

Finally, we consider the model with local learning centers and videoconferencing as a unique model for education, but that the model, when it comes to areas such as pedagogy, organization and technology, must be allowed to function and develop according to its own premises. 

Artikeln handlar om hur välfärdsorganisationer och deras tjänstemän kopplade till aktivitets- och sysselsättningsåtgärder agerar i mötet med den enskilde och vilka berättelser som skapas om individerna. Artikeln diskuterar hur projektdeltagaren omgärdas av en fortgående medikalisering och en social fragmentisering, där projektdeltagarens problematik reduceras och där individens egen röst tycks få ett begränsat utrymme.

Universities need to constantly accommodate new forms of collaboration with society. Interaction with and impacts on society and practice are of crucial importance. University West (UW) in Sweden has a profile area in work-integrated learning (WIL), which generally aims to address issues on integrating theory and practice in a coherent and sustainable way. In this paper we base our arguments on a research education (3rd cycle) in informatics with specialization in work-integrated learning. The aim with the paper is to evaluate UW’s research education and research environment from a WIL perspective. We will adopt an informing science model in order to conduct a current state analysis, in which we identify and visualize collaboration activities within and between the research education/environment and the UWs key stakeholders; society/practices, research community and PhD students. Concrete implications show how collaboration and informing flows are connected and how they can be improved. General reflections are given on the model as a useful means for quality development and assurance beyond learning outcomes, including aspects of collaboration and interaction that can be regarded as paths of societal and practical impacts.

Universities need to constantly accommodate new forms of collaboration with society. Interaction with and impacts on society and practice are of crucial importance. University West (UW) in Sweden has a profile area in work-integrated learning (WIL), which generally aims to address issues on integrating theory and practice in a coherent and sustainable way. In this paper we base our arguments on a research education (third-cycle) in informatics with specialization in work-integrated learning. The aim with the paper is to evaluate UW’s research education and research environment from a WIL perspective. We will adopt an informing science model in order to conduct a current state analysis, in which we identify and visualize collaboration activities within and between the research education/environment and the UWs key stakeholders; society/practices, research community and PhD students. Concrete implications show how collaboration and informing flows are connected and how they can be improved. General reflections are given on the model as a useful means for quality development and assurance beyond learning outcomes, including aspects of collaboration and interaction that can be regarded as paths of societal and practical impacts.

Higher education plays a new role in the society and the highly specialized labor market, and higher education institutes are expected to interact with and contribute to the surrounding society. University West in Sweden is since 2002 commissioned by the government to develop the pedagogical strategy called work-integrated learning (WIL) and WIL is the “trade mark” for the University. This means that pedagogical methods are based on WIL and that the faculty is working on further refinement and development in order to maximize the pedagogical gain offered by using the synergy between theory and practice.

Work-integrated-learning activities are often implemented in a course as methods aligned to the learning outcomes regarding knowledge in the specific subject. However, another perspective is that the capacity to reflect and understand the integration of theory and practice could actually be a learning outcome in itself. From this perspective, it is vital to theoretically frame and formulate stringent learnings outcomes. To have a clear framework for this is important for curriculum design, course delivery and assessment, as well.

In a self-evaluation conducted at the University, including focus groups with, both undergraduate and post graduate students, teachers, researchers and managers, a call for a framework has been expressed.

In this conceptual paper, we propose a framework to support, design, delivery and assessment of work-integrated-learning progression, i.e. understanding of the integration between theory and practice. This framework is inspired by theories regarding constructive alignment [3], the SOLO taxonomy, agentic learning, SAMR-model and the RAT-model. RAT means Replacement, Amplifying and Replacement [4] while SAMR is the acronym for Substitution, Augmentation, Modification and Redefinition [5]. Our WIL-4U has also been inspired by SOLO taxonomy [6]

In short, the framework for progression includes a progression from being descriptive regarding the observed practice, skills for comparing and evaluating practices, to be agentic in how theory and practice could be used in synergy for evolving, new theory and development of practice. Thereby, putting on eye on the “i” in WiL.

Ultimately such a framework could support the progression of “WiL-understanding” through an educational program, and that students after graduation have developed readiness for “life-long-learning” and could be agentic at workplaces in the sense that practice and theory are used in synergy.

I rapporten redovisas resultat, analyser och slutsatser av en utvärdering där utgångs-punkten var ett genomfört arbetsmarknadsprojekt i Trollhättans stad, vilket delvis finan-sierades av Europeiska Socialfonden. Utvärderingen har både ett tjänstemanna- och ett deltagarperspektiv.

När det gäller tjänstemannaperspektivet ska följande frågeställningar besvaras:

• Hur görs urvalet av deltagare?

• Hur görs bedömningen av enskilda deltagares motivation?

• Vilka förväntningar och föreställningar har tjänstemän på projektet?

• Vad menar tjänstemännen är viktiga faktorer för att lyckas med projektet?När det gäller deltagarperspektivet ska följande frågeställningar bevaras:

• Hur gick det till för att komma med i projektet?

• Vilka faktorer påverkar deltagarnas motivation att delta?

• Vilka tankar och erfarenheter har deltagarna om av att vara med i projektet?

• Vad anger deltagarna som viktiga faktorer för att lyckas?

Projektet är uppbyggt kring en modell som består av tre huvuddelar; antagning, folk-högskolestudier och en prövo- och introduktionstid. Målet är att deltagarna efter genom-fört projekt antingen ska ha ett arbete, påbörjat studier eller startat ett företag.Resultatet av utvärderingen bygger på fokusgrupper, intervjuer och dokument. Fokus-grupper har genomförts med tjänstemän. Intervjuer har genomförts med både tjänste-män och deltagare. Utvärderingsgruppen har haft tillgång till ett omfattande skriftligt material som belyser projektets olika delar. Det handlar om ett statistiskt material och tjänstemännens erfarenheter efter projektet.

För att illustrera antagningen redogörs för olika typfall; ett där antagningen var ”solklar”, ett där antagningen var tveksam och ett där det blev avslag. I samband med detta presenteras olika kännetecken som sedermera resulterade i antagning eller avslag. Det finns också fall som betraktas som självklara, men där personen ändå har svårt att komma i arbete. Ytterligare ett fall beskriver ett lyckat fall trots tveksamheter vid antag-ningen. Därefter redovisas tjänstemännens skriftliga erfarenheter av antagningsprocess-en samt vad som framkommit vid intervjuerna.Som framkom i det samlade materialet framstår urvalsprocessen som komplex och det är heller inte självklart vem eller vilka som borde bli deltagare i projektet. Det framgår å ena sidan att se att en deltagare som uppfyller kriterierna/kraven inte självklart lyckas i projektet, men att tveksamma fall ändå lyckas fullt ut. Det är alltså ingen enkel urvals-process att ta ut de rätta deltagarna. Det förefaller alltså vara så att projektets grundläg-gande krav enbart kan förklara en del av varför vissa lyckas bättre än andra.

This study presents results of a survey about social network website (SNW) usage that was administered to university students in China, Egypt, France, Israel, India, Korea, Macao, Sweden, Thailand, Turkey, and the United States. The offline and online social ties of SNW users were examined by nationality, levels of individualism-collectivism (I-C), gender, SNW usage, age, and access location. Contrary to existing literature, we found no differences in the number of offline friends between individualist and collectivist nations. Similarly, there was not a difference in the number of online social ties between individualist and collectivist nations. However, members of collectivist nations had significantly more online social ties never met in person. Heavy SNW users in individualist nations maintained significantly higher numbers of offline social ties; however, heavy SNW users in collectivist nations did not have higher numbers of offline social ties. Related implications and recommendations are provided.

Purpose 

Due to the global outbreak of Covid-19, Swedish teachers in upper secondary education were forced to conduct emergency remote teaching. As of today, there is a stream of research that addresses digitalization in education in light of the pandemic. Previous studies show that the challenges with the sudden intensification of digitalization have been particularly challenging in practical and aesthetic subjects. The research question is as follows: What challenges did vocational teachers experience during the emergency remote teaching caused by Covid-19 and what emergent tactics can be identified invocational teaching practice?

Design/methodology/approach 

The empirical data consists of (1) interviews with two vocational teachers and, (2) workshops with 25 teacher students from different vocational programmes that addressed vocational teaching during the Covid-19 crisis.

Findings 

Emergency remote teaching meant challenges due to the changed socio-material environment that cannot easily be transformed to a vocational teaching setting. The challenges were related to authentic situations and material, problem solving and dexterity. Tactics that emerged as a response to the challenges were mainly connected to attempts to mimic vocational practices.

Originality/value 

Contributions include explaining specific challenges and possibilities in developing vocational competence when teaching is digitalised. Furthermore, it increases the understanding of the relationship between theory and practice in vocational education. By adopting a socio-material perspective onvocational competence, the authors enhance the understanding of the importance of a shared socio-material environment

Detta är en studie om hur yrkesverksamma välfärdsaktörer med akademisk socialpedagogisk utbildning, förstår och beskriver socialpedagogik i teori och praktik. Studien har genomförts bland yrkesverksamma, före detta studenter på socionomprogrammet med inriktning mot socialpedagogik vid Stockholms universitet och det Socialpedagogiska programmet vid Högskolan Väst. Syftet är att beskriva och analysera de yrkesverksamma studenternas föreställningar om socialpedagogik som kunskapsfält och som praxis, samt hur socialpedagogiken kommit till uttryck i den egna yrkespraktiken. Studien bygger på intervjuer med 27 personer. Genom samtal och genom de berättelser vi tagit del av från respondenternas yrkesvardag har deras syn på socialpedagogik som fenomen, som värdegrund, som mål, metod och förhållningssätt växt fram.Analysen av yrkespraktiken tar utgångspunkt i tre teoretiska idealmodeller av socialpedagogik; den anpassande, den mobiliserande och den demokratiska, konstruerades som ett resultat av en tidigare intervjustudie med social-pedagogiska forskare (Eriksson 2006). I synen på socialpedagogikens värdegrund syns en samstämmighet bland respondenterna i den här studien och forskarna i den tidigare studien. Hur värdegrunden tar sig uttryck i praktiken är dock inte lika tydligt. Respondenterna ger uttryck för teorier, värderingar och förhållningssätt, men tvingas att i konkreta situationer handla pragmatiskt. Respondenternas sätt att förhålla sig till situationen är att inta ett pragmatiskt förhållningssätt, ett förhållningssätt som vi benämnt "den pragmatiske socialpedagogen". De försöker att upprätthålla, vad de menar är ett socialpedagogiskt förhållningssätt, trots administrativa och organisatoriska begränsningar. Det handlar om att hantera det upplevda handlingsutrymmet.

I denna bok söker vi samla idéer och tankar från olika tidsepoker för att formulera en socialpedagogik för framtiden. För att de idéer som historiskt formulerats om socialpedagogiken ska vara användbara måste de förstås utifrån och kopplas till den nutida situationen. Boken tecknar en aktuell bild av socialpedagogisk verksamhet och forskning i Sverige, kompletterad med internationella utblickar.

In Sweden there are several different professions that work within the welfare sector. Two of these are social pedagogues and socionoms. This article examines the similarities and differences between these professional fields by exploring four areas in more detail: education, the history of ideas and theory, research and practice. The results show that there are not only many differences but also some similarities. In practical work, social pedagogues and socionoms often work side by side and perform similar tasks. They are located in the same areas and often use the same methods. When it comes to the differences in educational history and current educations, they are large although they can also be found in, for example, the history of ideas. Furthermore, research in the various areas differs. In social pedagogy the interest has to a greater extent been focused on an understanding of the discipline through studies of the history of ideas, while in social work today one often focuses on studies of professional methods. Today’s challenges in the welfare sector require new knowledge, ways of thinking and understanding. Here, social pedagogy with its philosophical roots and humanistic values can play an important role.

This article focuses on social pedagogy and how social pedagogical approaches are used in Swedish welfare contexts. Social pedagogy as a phenomenon has existed in a variety of settings and during different periods of time. However, the meaning of social pedagogy as a concept depends to a great extent on the context in which it occurs, and the concept therefore has various connotations. The aim of this article is to analyse and discuss trends, directions and goals in social pedagogical practice. Three research projects (cases) are described, analysed and related to three theoretical models. The three cases – (1) a 'drive-in football' project for young people in a suburb, (2) an alternative residential caresetting for young people with learning disabilities, and (3) a 'future workshop' for older people – involved different situations and different audiences, all with elements of marginalisation and exclusion. The analysis of the three examples shows that social pedagogical practice in the Swedish context is characterised by the challenge of balancing the tensions between the individual and the collective, between emancipation and adaptation and between action and negotiation. The social pedagogical activities are also characterised by the fact that they all contain social, practical and existential dimensions of social support and an approach rooted in ethical core values.

In this paper we explore the relation between attitude and use of a university-wide Learning Management System (LMS) among faculty members engaged in teacher education at a large Swedish University. We compare the findings with a control group of educators from the same university, not involved in teacher education. The results reveal that all teachers fail to provide evidence for a correlation between attitude and use, which contest established assumptions in, for instance, the technology acceptance model (TAM). Still we can detect significant differences between teacher educators and other faculty members: Teacher educators are more positive to the potential for IT in general (p<0.1), and in particular more positive to (i) how IT develop their pedagogy, and (ii) that time spent on communicating with students through IT is time well spent. Furthermore, teacher educators use the LMS significantly more frequently, and with a wider scope of used functionality compared to other faculty.

The Swedish National Graduate School for Digital Technologies in Education (GRADE) is a cooperative venture between six Swedish universities established during 2018. Within the field of educational sciences and in the area of digital technologies in education, GRADE aims to strengthen the expertise in the area and to increase national and international cooperation in research training activities.Over a number of years, and from multitude of sources (cf. Brown & Davis, 2004; Fisher, Higgins & Loveless, 2006; Kafai & Resnick 1996), research has stressed that increased digitalization in schools leads to a complexity that needs to be taken into account on different levels, from different perspectives and with different designs, methodologies and theoretical perspectives (cf. Olofsson, Lindberg, Fransson & Hauge, 2015; Price, Jewitt & Brown, 2013; Tondeur, Valcke & van Braak, 2008). At a micro-level, the learning situation of students, teachers and school-leaders changes and it becomes important to deepen the knowledge about the impact digital technologies has on the fundamental conditions for teaching and learning of different school subjects (cf. Chun, Kern & Smith 2016; Leung & Baccaglini-Frank, 2017). On a macro-level, conditions for education as such changes and digital technologies becomes an important object of study as agents of change (Wong & Li, 2008). The digitalization of K-12 schools has long been highlighted in policy as a necessity (cf. Kirkman et al, 2002; OECD, 2010). However, research and evaluations (cf. Fransson et al, 2012; OECD, 2015; Wastiau et al, 2013) show that many substantial challenges remain. One of the fundamental pillars of GRADE is the interdisciplinary approach. Several disciplines are present (Applied IT, Curriculum studies, Education, Informatics, Technology and Learning, Educational work, Work-interated Learning) in researching digital technologies in K-12 schools with the ambition to contribute to the continued implementation, integration and use of digital technologies in Swedish K-12 schools that stems from the evidence-based knowledge produced within the activities of GRADE. The research within GRADE will be characterized by close cooperation with stakeholders from school practice, with the aim to contribute to concrete school development. In GRADE, a multi-level approach that involves multiple layers or levels of school activities will be encouraged. When possible, studies will be longitudinal. This will imply studies from an organizational and management perspective, e.g. studies of school leaders and other members of senior management positions responsible for digital technology use and implementation. Also implied are studies of teachers' teaching practices and didactical considerations, as well as studies of the students in classrooms and their learning using digital technologies. This will also imply that several issues with a bearing on the digitalization of education, for example regarding school policy, teaching, learning, assessment and professional development will be researched from different perspectives and with different methodological approaches. In this paper, these points of departure will be explored based on the expectations and experiences of the first twelve admitted doctoral students and their supervisors

It is important to identify and understand important factors underpinning the integration of information and communication technology (ICT) in schools. And, it is important that ICT is adopted in a sound pedagogical manner. The aim with this study was to suggest a model for the actual use of ICT in schools and how it may be related to important factors such as technological pedagogical expectations. The design of the model was inspired by TAM2 and UTAUT models, but with some modifications. We have developed a model which highlight the pedagogical aspects beyond the technical ones. Furthermore, our suggested model also include the adoption of digital techniques in everyday life as a potential predictor of adoption of ICT at work. The sample consists of 122 teachers and we analyzed the model with a structural equation model. This study contributes with a suggested model including a new construct for measuring expected performance from a technological pedagogical point of view. This new construct was a significant predictor to actual use of ICT in school. Furthermore we also developed a new construct for adoption of ICT in everyday life, which also was a significant predictor to actual use of ICT in school.

In this paper we outline models for conducting work-integrated learning research. Our experiences from two decades of doing research in close collaboration with practitioners are presented and discussed. Our main message is that by engaging practitioners in all steps of the research project there is a potential for research outcomes to have high societal impact, and theoretical contribution

The journey from being a new Ph. D.-candidate towards passing the doctorate grade is often a bumpy road with both unexpected and complex challenges that has to be turned in to learning experiences that adds to progression. In this paper we describe the development and use of a tool (the Goalkeeper) designed to support, structure and visualize this journey. It is a tool for supervisors, doctorate students as well as people responsible for quality assurance of a doctorate education. Based on our experiences of having utilised the tool we argue that it is important that the implementation of such a tool is firmly grounded in a quality culture where support of progression and formative assessment dominate over summative assessment and control.

This paper reports on the experiences from online courses in applied statistics. The courses were designed with the ambition of making studies in statistics, fun, interesting, useful, not that difficult and directly supported the possibility to combine studies and work. When designing the courses we considered three dimensions: "pedagogies","community" and "structure". Experiences after giving a first-year course three times show that the online course succeeds in attracting new studen ts since 90% of the participants would not be able to follow an on-campus course and 62% worked full time.

The pedagogies were highly appreciated because focusing on the interpretation of results and using computer analyses really changed the prejudices about statistics. Structure and prompt feedback was experienced as important factors. It was possible to combine online studies with employment, and the student completion rate was (84%, 55% and 61%), with a potential for further improvements.

During the last few decades, a great deal of effort has been put into improving statistical education, focusing on how students learn statistics and how we as teachers can find effective ways to help them. At the same time the use of computers, the Internet, and learning management systems has grown rapidly, and offers new educational possibilities. In this chapter, we will discuss how these changes in the pedagogical landscape have affected our introductory course in applied statistics. The course and teaching context are presented in relation to guidelines for assessment and instruction in statistics and to seven principles for effective teaching. Teaching strategies, course content, and examples of course material are included. Furthermore, results from evaluations are discussed, especially focusing on diversity in student characteristics. These results indicate a variation in learning styles both between and within groups. Finally, we present some of our ideas for future development including strategies for individualization and the use of educational mining.

Abstract: New technologies have always teased the imagination of avant-garde artists on how to challenge existing cultural paradigms. For instance, experience design for the creative industries of today provides exciting challenges with a potential to innovate practices and creating new ways of interaction between the artist and her audience. In an ongoing research project we aim at framing the design space for virtual experiences. The paper presents and discusses the role of technology in such context and use three ongoing case studies where ICT has been used to augment and support consumers of cultural experiences. The analysis shows how technology-driven interventions are less oriented towards radical change compared to interventions that are rooted in their nondigital origins. 1.

New technologies have always teased the imagination of avant-garde artists on how to challenge existing cultural paradigms. For instance, experience design for the creative industries of today provides exciting challenges with a potential to innovate practices and creating new ways of interaction between the artist and her audience. In an ongoing research project we aim at framing the design space for virtual experiences. The paper presents and discusses the role of technology in such context and use three ongoing case studies where ICT has been used to augment and support consumers of cultural experiences. The analysis shows how technology-driven interventions are less oriented towards radical change compared to interventions that are rooted in their nondigital origins.

An Information Systems Design Theory is a prescriptive theory that offers theory-based principles, which can guide practitioners and scholars in the design of effective information systems and set an agenda for on-going research. This paper introduces and describes an ISDT for adaptable E-Learning. We formulate our ISDT based on two cycles of Action Design Research. The cycles were conducted in an authentic organizational setting with end-users, responsible for organizing, producing and distributing civic orientation. Based on our findings, we propose that our ISDT, together with its components, can be used to design, implement and support an information system that incorporates E-Learning, which is not explicitly constrained to the formal context of higher education. © 2016 IEEE.

Newcomers in Sweden face a problem of learning the Swedish society with respect to laws, culture, democratic values, education system, labor market and aspects of taking the role as a parent. The municipality of Gothenburg and the county administrative board in Västra Götaland are appointed by the Swedish government to educate newcomers in civic orientation. This paper describes some problems in providing distance education for Swedish civic orientation in forms of advanced learning modules (ALM). Requirements for implications for design were gathered through several conducted workshops together with relevant stakeholders through a participatory design approach. We concluded that our design for implications can be processed for future research and used together with a system solution.

In order to achieve learning, presence is necessary. If we have good presence, no tests are necessary. In distance learning, the concept of presence is not obvious. Presence in distance and network contexts usually means being active on social media. However, in distance and network learning, something more is needed. It is the face-to-face interaction that needs to be “digitalized”. In order to investigate this, we have turned to Heidegger (1927) and the concept of Dasein. The need for an artifact mediating Dasein has been identified. The concept of Dasein is not easy, not even in philosophical terms. It means being somewhere else, and not on the place you are present. We have extended the The Community of Inquiry Model originating from Garrisson & Andersson (2003) by introducing the concept of digital Dasein.

Purpose

Although there is a large body of literature available on the foundations of workplace learning (WPL), little is known about designated research methods that systematically combine intervention, design and learning at work. The purpose of this study is to propose action design research as an alternative method for organizing WPL in general and facilitating pedagogically rich activities in particular.

Design/methodology/approach

This research used a case study approach to focus the action design research method and exemplify its utility through two case studies that emphasize WPL in general and how the method can be used to facilitate pedagogically rich activities in particular.

Findings

The results of the case studies indicate that the action design research method had a significantly positive effect on organizing WPL in organizations systematically, as well as creating a narrative that structures the research process and its outcomes.

Originality/value

The findings help scholars that are in need of organizing WPL research in a systematic way. The findings do also help practitioners in organizations to solve real-world problems and develop new knowledge jointly together with scholars. Consequently, the findings contribute to the existing literature by exemplifying how to facilitate pedagogically rich activities and disseminate the outcomes of doing so in a formalized way.

This paper highlights Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) as an outcome of using Action Design Research (ADR) in practice. We argue that ADR is a subtype of Design Science Research (DSR) and a prominent method for facilitating mutually beneficial collaboration between academia and practice. Subsequently, we tie our work around ADR and WIL to the Scandinavian school of IS-research and worker participation, by emphasizing reflective practice on both researcher and practitioner side. We demonstrate this through two empirical cases and four case episodes. Consequently, the cases highlight building, intervention, and evaluation in the areas of civic orientation and county administration. The narrative around each case focuses on ADR-activities that mediate reflection and learning through iterative cycles. Outcomes from the cases are reported as WIL-outcomes and finally, we conclude this paper by briefly suggesting two implications for future relevant research.

Poverty, war, conflicts, and other forces of global turmoil are constantly challenging how developed nations design their processes for immigration in general, and civic orientation in particular. This paper focuses on an exploratory study of the challenges coupled with the digitalization of civic orientation in a region of West Sweden – and concludes with a set of five tentative design guidelines for how to design for heterogeneous groups of end-users.

As the digital transformation of society accelerates, sophisticated Information Technologies (IT) emerge and are introduced into organizations and institutions of society. An example of such technologies is the Virtual Reality (VR) technology that has re-emerged and become a frequently used solution for supporting collaboration and workplace learning in immersive spaces. The deep sense of immersion in VR enables users to learn and develop working skills in an authentic virtual space, which facilitates an increased feeling of user presence and mapping with real world working scenarios. However, due to the emerging nature of using VR for collaboration and workplace learning, there are wide possibilities for Information Systems (IS) scholars to explore the prescriptive knowledge space of how to design and theorize VR technologies through Design Science Research (DSR). In this research in progress paper, we scrutinize the question of how to design immersive collaborative spaces for industrial workplace learning, and subsequently perform a preliminary round of literature review to address the question. Consequently, the findings of the review are reported as three meta-requirements, which we target as the contribution and input for further development of an information systems design theory. © 2020, Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

The manufacturing industry constantly strive to develop the competencies of their expert production engineers in order to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage. Research shows that the absorptive capacity of a firm is central in order to reach such a goal. The absorptive capacity is the firm´s ability to recognize the value of new external information, assimilate it, and apply it to commercial ends, and thereby exploit the conditions for innovation. In this paper the concept of absorptive capacity is used as a lens for analyzing managerial rationales for engaging in technology enhanced competence development projects. Through interviews with key informants in 15 manufacturing firms we study the capabilities and readiness that organizations need for participation in e-learning initiatives. We present a framework of readiness for technology enhanced competence development comprised of the following interrelated constructs; awareness, e-learning maturity, dynamic capability and co-creativity. Results show a broad variation of levels within the constructs among the firms. Notable is the low level of e-learning maturity and dynamic capability. We argue that e-learning maturity is dependent on all four constructs.

In this paper we aim to understand management’s perceptions of knowledge and competence development to inform the design of technology enhanced learning activities integrated in the workplace. Work-integrated learning can be viewed with the university lens on studies of formal education integrated in the workplace setting, but here we rather emphasize the conditions of the workplace as implications for design of successful e-learning initiatives. We conducted interviews with 15 manufacturing industries in Sweden and used qualitative content analysis approach to interpret the text data. Results show that companies describe a rich variation of work-integrated learning activities, but the step towards external collaboration with academia for co-production of knowledge is marginal. Also, broad-minded work for innovations is limited. This imply the need for well-planned design of richer collaborative acitivites between academia and organizations through use of media technology to encourage competence development.

The point of departure for this study is a need of more knowledge about to which extent and in what way organized meeting places can have a meaning for older persons as a place for social networking.The study was performed with use of interviews and participant observations at two different meeting places run by the municipality. As a first step a content analysis was made based on the empirical data. This analysis showed thatvisits on a more or less regular basis gave a structure to everyday life that felt important for the visitors. The meetings with other old persons contributed to a feeling of social cohesion and replaced experiences of loneliness. These results were significant for both meeting places. As a second step, an analysis linked to theories on social networks gave a more deep knowledge about the essence of the social networks which were developed and the significance of thesenetworks. The analysis shows that most of the networks could be described as thin ties (that is: relatively superficial and noncommittal network ties). These ties could mainly be described in terms of conversation contacts. In spite of that these contacts could be described as thin, they have an emotionalvalue in contributing to a sense of community and safety. Some networks also showed to have a potential for a development towards thin friendship ties.As a summary of the results the most significance of meeting places for older persons were the contribution to give a feeling of being part of a community. This adds a value of meaning and safety in everyday life for older persons.The study shows how important it is to take into consideration to organize meeting places when planning for aging in place for older persons. This could be seen as an important strategy for preventing loneliness and health problems among older people.

There are vital challenges for organization undergoing digital transformation, especially those that rely more and more on the ever-evolving platform economy. The hotel industry faces key problems as they need to have the power to control and augment the value chain supported by an ongoing access to accurate data (such as online customer behavior). We discuss on a conceptual level how such disruptive economic changes appear in the analogue and physical practice, at place in hotel organisations. We explore the practice of analogue disruption as it emerges as struggles and discontinuities that may not bring the expected flow of value to the business. This paper aims to examine how analogue disruptions takes place due to the ongoing digitalization in the hotel sector through the platform economy. We here apply a qualitative analysis with interpretative methodologies, that will open for further knowledge and insights on the analogue disruption of digital transformation. © 2023 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.

A MOOC is a trending concept in education that is disrupting traditional methods oflearning consumption. The emergence and use of MOOCs for professional teacher development isstill uncommon, but on the verge of gaining a foothold. Research regarding MOOCs typicallyfocuses on impacts for higher education and lifelong learning. However, the specific intersection ofMOOCs and professional teacher development is poorly researched. This concept papercontemplates the benefits and drawbacks of using MOOCs for professional teacher developmentand calls for more practical studies and explorative research. This paper also speculates on the basicMOOC design criteria and principles needed to maximize engagement and course completion,which are currently common issues with general MOOCs. The conclusion is that MOOCs can be acost- and resource-effective means to deliver quality education in order to further professionalteacher development. However, possible risks are employers' reluctance to accept MOOCaccreditation as equivalent professional development and the lack of relevant MOOC courses forprofessional development.

Research has shown that collaboration and co-creation among different groups of stakeholders add complexity and challenges to the innovation process. In this paper a study of co-creation in a multi-stakeholder innovation process is presented. The co-creation is explored and described from a boundary practice perspective. The empirical data presented in the study is based on a user-centric innovation project, Free2Ride, where researchers, developers and members of two equestrian clubs co-created a piece of ICT safety equipment consisting of a transmitter (on the horse) and a receiver (application on a smartphone) to be used by equestrian club members during their everyday riding activities. Three episodes were extracted from the empirical data and presented in the paper. From these episodes the researchers have identified four characteristics of the spanning of boundaries in co-creation from a boundary practice perspective. One of the contributions in the papers is a description of boundary practice-spanning. The research approach adopted in the study is the action case approach.

This paper is based on a user-centric innovation project, Free2Ride, which is seen as an example of community interaction that overcomes boundaries. The Free2Ride projects goal was to develop a piece of ICT safety equipment consisting of a sender (on the horse) and a receiver (application in a smartphone) to be used by equestrian club members during their everyday riding activities. We will answer the research question of what the characteristics of a boundary dialogue in user-centric innovation activities are. The aim of the paper is to propose a model describing the characteristics of boundary dialogue in user-centric innovation that involve different communities of practices such as ICT developers, users and researchers. An important element of that model is the mental wandering, inwards and outwards, by core members in a community. We discuss the temporal as well as the symbolic nature of the mental wandering during the boundary dialogue in user-centric innovation activities. We applied a combination of research approaches consisting of action research and engaged scholarship approach. The theoretical framework for analyzing our findings is communities of practices with a specific interest in boundary spanning and learning dialogues.

This paper is based on studies of a living lab process, which is an open, user-centric, innovation approach, where several actors from industry, user groups and academia are involved. We aim to describe and analyze the dynamics in an innovation boundary context based on a living lab process. An action-oriented research approach was applied and the empirical results are from The Find Project (TFP), with the aim of customizing an ICT product based on the needs of a user group. The findings are analyzed from a community of practice perspective where the three different communities i) researchers from Halmstad Living Lab (HLL), ii) ICT developers (ICTD), and iii) next of kin's to demented elderly persons (NOKD) represented the units of analysis. The analysis identified several boundary situations that played a vital role for the innovation process. The contribution of our research to innovation theory is a process model describing the dynamics in an innovation boundary context with regard to boundary objects-in-use as well as to brokering. The research highlights two different levels of brokering: i) product/service brokering; and ii) process brokering.

This paper is based on studies of a living lab process, which is an open, user-centric, innovation approach, where several actors from industry, user groups and academia are involved. We aim to describe and analyze the dynamics in an innovation boundary context based on a living lab process. An action-oriented research approach was applied and the empirical results are from The Find Project (TFP), with the aim of customizing an ICT product based on the needs of a user group. The findings are analyzed from a community of practice perspective where the three different communities i) researchers from Halmstad Living Lab (HLL), ii) ICT developers (ICTD), and iii) next of kin's to demented elderly persons (NOKD) represented the units of analysis. The analysis identified several boundary situations that played a vital role for the innovation process. The contribution of our research to innovation theory is a process model describing the dynamics in an innovation boundary context with regard to boundary objects-in-use as well as to brokering. The research highlights two different levels of brokering: i) product/service brokering; and ii) process brokering.

The purpose of the project has been to develop a process through which users, staff as well as patients, can be involved in field evaluations of medical and healthcare technology. Interviews with different stakeholders and the experiences from four case studies have led to the following conclusions. Users have the potential to act as active evaluators rather than passive subjects or participants only. However, user involvement in field evaluations must be supported by a formation of facilitators or 'door openers' to the healthcare organisation, moderators enhancing the dialogue between developers and users, and mentors for the users acting as evaluators

The purpose of the project has been to develop a process through which users, staff as well as patients, can be involved in field evaluations of medical and healthcare technology. Interviews with different stakeholders and the experiences from four case studies have led to the following conclusions. Users have the potential to act as active evaluators rather than passive subjects or participants only. However, user involvement in field evaluations must be supported by a formation of facilitators or 'door openers' to the healthcare organisation, moderators enhancing the dialogue between developers and users, and mentors for the users acting as evaluators.