Abstract

The sound of the city - a introduction of an ICT-based educational design with a focus on co-creative elements created for the Arbejdermuseet

In this thesis we have developed an ICT-based frame that can be used to support educational aspects Nørrebro’s local history in a collaboration with the Arbejdermuseet in Copenhagen.

To establish this didactic frame we used the research methodology Design Based Research. This iterative development model was made to both develop and re-develop learning designs.

This model operates between the fields of theory and practice. In applying this model, you have you work both theoretically and pragmatically in the development process. Therefore through the iterative processes you create a educational fundamental that is primarily based on a theoretical basis but with the support of a pragmatic perspective.

We began by conducting detailed domain knowledge analysis, where we examined the influence of society on museum communication. Here we found that museums are forced to innovate to generate interest among audiences if they are to retain a degree of relevance in the future. Furthermore, we discovered that audiences today are looking to be participatory and co-creative in their interaction.

Since our didactic design is targeted students from 7th to 10th grade in the Danish primary school system, we made a study of this group. It was interesting to note that the group actually had doubts about what they believe museums have to offer. On the one hand, they need to be innovative and to be at the same level as their audience. On the other hand, they still have to maintain their authenticity.

Workin in collaboration with the Arbejdermuseet we agreed on the use of audioguides as the mediated design and we also found that the overall title should be ‘Resistance at Nørrebro’.
‘Resistance at Nørrebro’ is based on five different spots around the suburb of Nørrebro with each spot representing an event that has characterized Danish history through time.

In venturing around the city the students will use their smartphones as a location-based guides which will inform about the respective events. These events will be told through the use of several different modalities and semiotic resources.

The audioguide is designed to inform students when they are in a spot where there is another digital layer to approach. This allows students to have their phone in their pocket and thus keep their focus on the city.

After ​​walking through the city the student will meet at the Arbejdermuseet. Here the focus will be on the dialogue among students. This dialogue will be facilitated by the museum’s schools service. The primary goal of this is to ensure students understand, that they a are part of the history and that history is made every day.

In the summer of 2014 the Danish government will implement the new Danish school reform. In this reform there will be a focus on a collaboration between the schools and museums. This collaboration aims to provide more differentiated and diverse lectures for the pupils.

In this study we have demonstrated a potential for museums as the students today are digital natives. We have found that this approach could give the museums a new relevance in the constantly changing digital world.