Saxaren: strengthening informal collaboration among geographically distributed teachers

Abstract

For people working in situations with few colleagues around, information technology could be used for increased communication with colleagues at other places. One such group is teachers in rural areas. In our work with teachers in an archipelago school distributed over six islands we have focused on encouraging communication using a digital notice board, providing for quick handwritten notes, connecting all islands. Based on the teachers' collaborative situation, and on the design, implementation and use of the prototype, we illustrate, by a number of recorded notes, how the teachers have been using the prototype, relating the findings to group building, easy access, and playful behaviour.