Claudia Magdalena Fabian

Social inclusion of Young Marginalised People through online mobile communities

Youth exclusion is widespread and increasing across Europe. Information and communication technology (ICT) has the potential to serve as a gateway to social inclusion. However, computer and internet access of marginalised young people are limited. Alternative methods to approach them through ICT are needed. The interdisciplinary project ComeIn (Online Mobile Communities to facilitate the Social Inclusion of Young Marginalised People - EU FP7) studies and utilises mobile networks as a means for social inclusion. This approach combines the benefits of the online community concept with an inclusive approach, realised through the most abundant device used by marginalised youth in Europe - mobile phones.

A Participatory Design Approach for the Support of Collaborative Learning and Knowledge Building in Networked Organizations

Engagement in collaborative learning and knowledge building activities is still a big challenge for many workplace-learning designers. Especially in highly competitive environments people might be reluctant to give away too much of their tacit knowledge. A feeling of ownership and an involvement of the individual in the planning of the learning activities can be important motivational factors. In an international research project called IntelLEO - Intelligent Learning Extended Organization we intend to follow a participatory design approach involving individual workers from the very beginning of the development process. The planned user participation will range from the first conceptual design phase through the different development stages until the final validation of the system. Our hypothesis is that this involvement will increase the motivation of the individuals for collaborative learning and knowledge building activities. (http://online-journals.org/i-jac/article/view/999)

Self-regulated learners and collaboration: how innovative tools can address the motivation to learn at the workplace?

This paper describes an innovative motivational approach combined with new tools to support self-regulated learners, stressing the importance of social embeddedness and collaboration for learners at work. We suggest that the social context plays an important role when it comes to defining learning goals, adapting ones strategies to social norms, and collaboratively creating knowledge with colleagues and peers. A first assessment of this motivational approach and early prototypes was conducted within the IntelLEO project by the end-users of three heterogeneous business cases. The results of this evaluation in the biggest business case are presented in this paper.