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Research

Connected learning, collapsed contexts: Examining teens’ sociotechnical ecosystems through the lens of digital badges

Researchers and designers have incorporated social media affordances into learning technologies to engage young people and support personally relevant learning, but youth may reject these attempts because they do not meet user expectations. Through in-depth case studies, we explore the sociotechnical ecosystems of six teens (ages 15-18) working at a science center that had recently introduced a digital badge system to track and recognize their learning. By analyzing interviews, observations, ecological momentary assessments, and system data, we examined tensions in how badges as connected learning technologies operate in teens' sociotechnical ecosystems. We found that, due to issues of unwanted context collapse and incongruent identity representations, youth only used certain affordances of the system and did so sporadically. Additionally, we noted that some features seemed to prioritize values of adult stakeholders over youth. Using badges as a lens, we reveal critical tensions and offer design recommendations for networked learning technologies.

Read the full paper.

Caroline Pitt

Adam Bell

Brandyn S. Boyd

Nikki Demmel

Katie Davis

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Projects in Learning Sciences

  • Falx: Synthesis-Powered Visualization Authoring
  • Connected learning, collapsed contexts: Examining teens’ sociotechnical ecosystems through the lens of digital badges
  • The kids are / not / sort of all right: Technology’s complex role in teen wellbeing during COVID-19
  • Opportunities and Challenges in Involving Users in Project-Based HCI Education
  • Designing a connected learning toolkit for public library staff serving youth through the design-based implementation research method
  • ConnectedLib Toolkit

News

A patent form.

A simple intervention significantly improved patent outcomes for women inventors

Wednesday, October 1, 2025
While innovation is core to American identity, women inventors were named on only 13% of 2019 U.S. patents. In part, that’s because women’s patents are less likely to make it through the examination process. Research by the...
Read more
A collection of children's books

'Bears will be boys,' but why? Professor investigates

Monday, September 29, 2025
“The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” and “Clifford the Big Red Dog” are just a few of the iconic picture books that have shaped childhoods for generations. The stories found in these pages teach their...
Read more

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Oct 9
 
4:00-5:00PM

MLIS Prospective Student Information Session - Fireside Chat with Chair

Zoom / Online
Oct 10
 
11:30-1:30PM

Faculty Meeting

Bloedel 070
Oct 10
 
4:00-5:00PM

Ph.D. in Information Science Information Session with Faculty Panel

Zoom / Online
Oct 14
 
12:00-1:30PM

CALMA Round Table : Mapping the Black Information Future

Virtual
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