On April 9, 2024, Johanna Öberg will present her PhD thesis at the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV), Stockholm University. The title of the thesis is “Digitala resursers påverkan på delaktighet i lärmiljöer: En studie av högstadieelevers delaktighet”.

PhD student: Johanna Öberg, DSV
Opponent: Jimmy Jaldemark, Mid Sweden University
Main supervisor: Uno Fors, DSV
Supervisor: Jelena Zdravkovic, DSV

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The defence takes place at DSV in Kista, starting at 13:00 pm.
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Abstract

This dissertation explores the potential of digital resources to support students’ participation in learning environments. The research questions focus on the student perspective on participation in formal and informal learning environments, as well as the role digital resources can play in promoting student participation in school instruction.

Four participant-based studies investigate students’ and teachers’ views on how technology-enhanced learning can benefit the significant interactions that promote participation in learning environments. Students express a lack of digital resources actively supporting their participation in school compared to experiences from their personal lives. They emphasize the need for increased use of digital resources for information management and interactions in the learning process.

Teachers stress the importance of being able to provide timely and specific feedback to students through digital platforms. They also express the need to visualize students’ reasoning and to compile and have updated results at both individual and group levels. Both teachers and students identify the potential of digital resources to increase student participation, for example, by developing digital resources that can handle information flows and provide a common platform for interaction and collaboration. Learning is facilitated and strengthened by meaningful social participation, which needs to be related to the ongoing development of learning environments in the rapidly changing digital landscape.

To promote student participation with the support of a technology-enhanced learning environment, a balance is required between meeting students’ needs, content requirements, and teachers’ challenges in conducting quality teaching with digital resources as support. The dissertation presents principles regarding the use of digital resources to promote student participation. The principles focus on accessibility, individual adaptation to different learning styles, and strengthening students’ community. These principles, derived from teachers’ experiences, are believed to support teachers’ pedagogical practices in the aim of increasing student participation in the learning process.

Teachers see many applications within technology-enhanced learning to support both student participation and engagement. However, the low availability and reliability of digital resources in schools constitute a significant barrier.

Keywords

digital resources, digital transformation, participatory research, pedagogical practices, pupil participation