Researching and Understanding the Sociomaterial Ecology of Students' Emotions in a School's Makerspace

• In Event: Antecedents and Consequences of Student Emotion and Engagement

Abstract

This study contributes to research knowledge on how students’ emotions emerge, are expressed, are shared and are negotiated in a school’s makerspace. We define emotions as relational and embodied situated in sociocultural and material contexts, and refer to this entangled complexity as a sociomaterial ecology of emotions. Video recordings of students’ interactions were subjected to a multimodal interaction analysis. The results evidence multiple and tension-laden emotions ranging from joy, enthusiasm and pride to struggle, frustration and disappointment. The display of emotions was strong in situations in which the students experienced challenges. The ways in which the students responded to and negotiated emotions, such as ownership of emotions, gave rise to different opportunities for engagement and learning.

Authors

• Kristiina P. Kumpulainen, University of Helsinki

• Anu Kajamaa, University of Helsinki