Participatory design as an approach for work-integrated learning of digital competences: putting theory into practice

Technology is radically changing the healthcare sector. Introduction of technology demands new ways of providing healthcare services and the professionals will need new knowledge and competence to be able to do their job and to contribute to the continuous development of the sector. There is limited focus on digital competence and change-processes in the educations related to healthcare as well as in the workplaces. Applying work-integrated learning makes it possible for healthcare professionals to learn and develop their competence through practical work with examples from their own workplaces and empower them to maneuver the digitalization of the workplaces. Similar participatory design started as a movement to empower industrial workers to have a stronger voice during the introduction of new technologies at their workplace. As such participatory design is a design approach which promotes involvement of all stakeholders in the design of technologies that affects them. It provides a set of tools and techniques to enable active involvement in the design process. We use these tools and techniques to teach healthcare professionals digital competences needed in their workplaces, and we discuss opportunities of participatory design for work-integrated learning. Based on a set of three participatory design workshops, we present an approach that can empower healthcare professionals to maneuver the digital change at their workplace. We recommend continued investment in the development of work-integrated learning practices with a participatory mindset.publishedVersio

Enhancing engagement and participation of seniors in society with the use of social media - The case of a reflective participatory design method story

An ageing population is an emerging phenomenon in Europe and the rest of the world. Seniors face issues of social isolation and loneliness. Recently the research focus in ICT design has also turned to social media that can sustain seniors’ engagement and participation in social activities even when it is physically a challenge for them to leave home. Design and re-design of social media may support seniors’ engagement and participation in social activities, contributing to mitigate the feeling of loneliness and social isolation. In this paper, the focus is on understanding seniors’ social activities and their relationship to social media which may support their relationship. With Participatory Design – a reflective design approach, we have involved seniors in reflecting on possible future social media that can support and enrich social relationships. The participative methods used are cartographic mapping and future workshop, both appropriate for seniors to get involved in reflecting,thinking and making design alternatives together with other participants. We discuss how is to involve seniors in PD and what we need to know to design better future social media that can support seniors.publishedVersio

EquiP: A Method to Co-Design for Cooperation

In Participatory Design (PD), the design of a cooperative digital solution should involve all stakeholders in the co-design. When one stakeholder’s position is weaker due to socio-cultural structures or differences in knowledge or abilities, PD methods should help designers balance the power in the design process at both the macro and micro levels. We present a PD method that addresses the power relations arising during the design process and draws on theories about participation and power in the design and organisation of change processes. We contribute to Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) by using the PD method to design computer support for cooperation on cognitive rehabilitation between people with Mild Acquired Brain Injuries (MACI) and their healthcare professionals, where strengthening the cooperation is considered an element of patient empowerment. This method is presented as a contribution to the intersection between PD and CSCW. The discussion of power in PD contributes to the discussion of cooperation in CSCW. We found that EquiP supported the creation of choices, and hence the ‘power to’ influence the design. This method can contribute to a power ‘equilibrium’ and a positive-sum power relation in PD sessions involving all stakeholders.publishedVersio

Designing New Social Media Services For Seniors’ : A Participatory Design Approach

The society is getting older. A process called aging at the bottom will come with demographic and consequently socio economic changes. Due to this tide wave of elderly I have focused my research on seniors and the need for designing new social media services for them. This thesis is focused an understanding senior’s daily life, their activities, their relationship with their family, friends and groups of interest, how are they currently using the technology and finally to find out with them possibilities for alternative social media services that can sustain or enhance their social engagement and participation. A participatory design approach has been used for the research. Different techniques like cartographic mapping future workshops, walkthrough and diary are the methods that I have chosen for the collection of data. Data gathers is analyzed through the usage of thematic analysis and the main thematic has been presented by the original expressions of seniors during the workshops. Social media is still in its begging when it comes to services for seniors and the opportunities available are huge. This research can be considered a good start also for further services in the future

Designing New Social Media Services For Seniors’ : A Participatory Design Approach

The society is getting older. A process called aging at the bottom will come with demographic and consequently socio economic changes. Due to this tide wave of elderly I have focused my research on seniors and the need for designing new social media services for them. This thesis is focused an understanding senior’s daily life, their activities, their relationship with their family, friends and groups of interest, how are they currently using the technology and finally to find out with them possibilities for alternative social media services that can sustain or enhance their social engagement and participation. A participatory design approach has been used for the research. Different techniques like cartographic mapping future workshops, walkthrough and diary are the methods that I have chosen for the collection of data. Data gathers is analyzed through the usage of thematic analysis and the main thematic has been presented by the original expressions of seniors during the workshops. Social media is still in its begging when it comes to services for seniors and the opportunities available are huge. This research can be considered a good start also for further services in the future