Designing for Learning Engagement in Remote Communities: Narratives From North of Sixty°

• In Event: Standardized Education in Nonstandard Rural Places

Abstract

There are multiple challenges to designing learning experiences for remote schools, including technology and infrastructure limitations, high teacher and administrator turnover, and conflicting interests between local culture and national curriculums. This paper examines the history of educational initiatives in remote Arctic communities, focusing on: 1) the importance of traditional knowledge, 2) the role of indigenous culture in educational curriculum, and 3) how and why technology might be used to enhance and preserve traditional knowledge and culture. We present design principles for engaging learners in remote communities through a focus on reflective presence, motivation, educator support, and simplicity of design. These principles are illustrated through a narrative centered on the design of an online learning environment titled North of Sixty.

Authors

• Aaron Doering, University of Minnesota

• Jeni Henrickson, University of Minnesota