Books by Janni Nielsen

ICT plays an increasingly important role in the educational field, but often the focus is more on technology than on pedagogy. Learning and Narrativity in Digital Media focuses on the pedagogical aspects before the technical aspects.  The underlying paradigm is a student or learner centred learning philosophy. Here importance is attached to the learning processes and to the development of problem solving strategies, creativity and critical thinking. The contributions are based on a common theoretical approach to learning related to constructivism, collaborative learning, and situated learning.  The anthology is organised around two themes. The first is "ICT and Learning" and the second is "Meaning Construction and Narrativity". The first theme consists of four chapters, which present and discuss different ways of using ICT in learning as well as in pedagogical processes. The second theme consists of five chapters on cognition and the use of narratives in education, learning and design processes involving media.  Learning and Narrativity in Digital Media is the result of mutual engagement in the Danish Research Network on Learning and Multimedia. The network has also published the book Learning in Virtual Environments.

Denne publikation har sin oprindelse i Dansk GASAT Forum (Gender And Science And Technology), der eksisterede som et organiseret netværkssamarbejde frem til 1989. Både det danske og det internationale GASAT samarbejde har fokuseret på kvinders og mænds (pigers og drenges) deltagelse i de tekniske og naturvidenskabelige områder i uddannelse og arbejde. I bogen redegøres der for en række undersøgelser og udviklingsarbejder som nogle medlemmer af netværket gennemførte i slutningen af 80'erne. Endvidere er der bidrag fra andre forskere, og det fælles tema i bogen er kønnets betydning og forandring.

Learning in Virtual Environments challenges the traditional understanding of teaching and learning as something which exclusively takes place in physical rooms and institutions. Teaching and learning mediated by information and communication technology (ICT) transcend borders of time and space.  Throughout the last decade Danish researchers have been in front developing new methods and analyzing the possibilities and limitations of these forms of learning. Their work is presented in this anthology.  The special Danish approach to learning in problem oriented project pedagogy frames the book. Possibilities and limitations of the virtual learning environment are seen through different theoretical optics. In the section on didactical design issues such as virtual portfolio and the design of virtual learning environments are presented. The book is finalized by a discussion on research methods.  Learning in Virtual Environments is the result of a mutual engagement within the Danish Research Network on Learning and Multimedia.  The network has also published the book Learning and Narrativity in Digital Media.