TY - JOUR

T1 - Technology, participation and bodily interaction in nature

T2 - The potential of mobile technology in situated learning.

AU - Balling, Gitte

AU - Schilhab, Theresa

AU - Esbensen, Gertrud Lynge

PY - 2022/10/1

Y1 - 2022/10/1

N2 - In this study, we test and discuss a Danish communication and entertainment mobile application (app) aimed at children aged 10 to 12 years for use by families and schools. The app, Tidslommen, has been developed by Museum Vestsjælland, a collaboration among natural history museums in Denmark. Tidslommen features audio and video guides and augmented reality with game elements, which become active when users enter specific geographical spots. Adopting a transdisciplinary approach (media study, studies in children’s culture, educational neuroscience, educational anthropology) and using a combination of the walkthrough method and sensory ethnography, we explore the functionalities of the app at four locations. With our field-based user experiences as the point of departure, we analyse and discuss the potential and challenges related to the intersections among bodily and nature-based experiences, mobile technology and participatory practices as part of a didactic setting that aims to encourage children to participate in experiences with nature. Our study suggests that using mobile technology encourages interactions between peers and moving around at a location. The app also allows for an individualised experience characterised by a play-oriented approach to the location.

AB - In this study, we test and discuss a Danish communication and entertainment mobile application (app) aimed at children aged 10 to 12 years for use by families and schools. The app, Tidslommen, has been developed by Museum Vestsjælland, a collaboration among natural history museums in Denmark. Tidslommen features audio and video guides and augmented reality with game elements, which become active when users enter specific geographical spots. Adopting a transdisciplinary approach (media study, studies in children’s culture, educational neuroscience, educational anthropology) and using a combination of the walkthrough method and sensory ethnography, we explore the functionalities of the app at four locations. With our field-based user experiences as the point of departure, we analyse and discuss the potential and challenges related to the intersections among bodily and nature-based experiences, mobile technology and participatory practices as part of a didactic setting that aims to encourage children to participate in experiences with nature. Our study suggests that using mobile technology encourages interactions between peers and moving around at a location. The app also allows for an individualised experience characterised by a play-oriented approach to the location.

KW - Faculty of Humanities

KW - Museum communication

KW - Nature Experiences

KW - Affordances

KW - app based activities

KW - Play

U2 - 10.2478/tjcp-2022-0010

DO - 10.2478/tjcp-2022-0010

M3 - Journal article

VL - 9,2

SP - 1

EP - 14

JO - Conjunctions : transdisciplinary journal of cultural participation

JF - Conjunctions : transdisciplinary journal of cultural participation

SN - 2246-3755

ER -