This paper presents the design and long-term study of BiebBeep, a large interactive touchscreen that has been developed with the aim to augment the information and social function of a library. BiebBeep displays user-generated and context-relevant content, such as information about local events and book trailers. The system’s distinctive feature is that people can add information to the screen themselves, such as tweets and Flickr photos, so that the library and its visitors can inform and connect with each other. For more than a year, the BiebBeep system has been iterated and studied in the library. The research approach presented is an exemplar of the study of a public screen in situ for long-term to best meet the demands for its actual use in present and future.
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This video presents BiebBeep, an interactive touchscreen system that has been developed with the aim to support information and social services for the New Library in Almere, The Netherlands. The constantly updated information displayed on the interactive screen concerns not only the library itself, but also features happenings in the local area. The system's distinctive feature is that people can add information to the screen themselves, such as tweets, photos, local and cultural news announcements, so that the library and its visitors can inform and connect with each other. Over the course of almost one year, several studies were conducted, including focus group, interview- and observation-based studies that have motivated the functionality, and particularly the user-generated and localized content the system supports. Consequently, the services and functionality the system offers are aimed towards supporting Library 2.0, the next generation library.
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Learning activities in a makerspace are hands-on and characterized by design and inquiry. Evaluation is needed both for learners and their coaches in order to effectively guide the learning process of the children and for feedback on the effectiveness of the after-school maker activities. Due to its constructionist nature, learning in a makerspace requires specific forms of evaluation. In this paper we describe the development of an instrument that facilitates and captures reflection on the activities that children undertook in a library makerspace. Our aim is to capture learning in this context with multiple instruments: analysis of the artifacts that are made, observation of hands-on activities and interviews - which all are time consuming methods. Hence, we developed an easy to use tool for self-evaluation of maker learner activities for children. We build on the design of a visual instrument used for learning by design and inquiry in primary education. The findings and results are transferable to (formative) assessment and evaluation of learning activities by learners in other types of education and specific in maker education.
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The user experience of our daily interactions is increasingly shaped with the aid of AI, mostly as the output of recommendation engines. However, it is less common to present users with possibilities to navigate or adapt such output. In this paper we argue that adding such algorithmic controls can be a potent strategy to create explainable AI and to aid users in building adequate mental models of the system. We describe our efforts to create a pattern library for algorithmic controls: the algorithmic affordances pattern library. The library can aid in bridging research efforts to explore and evaluate algorithmic controls and emerging practices in commercial applications, therewith scaffolding a more evidence-based adoption of algorithmic controls in industry. A first version of the library suggested four distinct categories of algorithmic controls: feeding the algorithm, tuning algorithmic parameters, activating recommendation contexts, and navigating the recommendation space. In this paper we discuss these and reflect on how each of them could aid explainability. Based on this reflection, we unfold a sketch for a future research agenda. The paper also serves as an open invitation to the XAI community to strengthen our approach with things we missed so far.
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This episode of The Void was written and hosted by Rosa Menkman. It is concerned with the changing role of the library, reading, writing and publishing in a post-digital age. The performance/lecture was based on a presentation at the BiblioTech event, reworked for the Institute of Network Cultures. This is the shortened version, edited by Rosa Menkman. There is also a full version available.Rosa Menkman is a Dutch research based artist working in the field of resolution studies.BiblioTech is a project exploring the changing role of the library, reading, writing, and publishing in a post-digital age.The BiblioTech conference was facilitated by Nathan Jones and Sam Skinner of Torque Editions and was hosted by NeMe Arts Centre in Limassol, Cyprus. The lecture/performance took place on May 10, 2022.
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Informal learning spaces create opportunities for children and youth to develop their talents and to experience new social roles. In recent years, several public libraries in the Netherlands have established makerspaces to empower youth by facilitating the development of their digital skills in conjunction with their creativity. The Amsterdam Public Library created a network of makerspaces (Maakplaats021) and provided training for the makerspace-coaches. These coaches – former librarians or other professionals – have a central role in the makerspace and fulfill several functions. This contribution describes informal learning of children in these makerspaces and distills critical features that enforce learning through the lens of children aged 8–12 and their makerspace-coaches.
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UNLABELLED: Public library makerspaces intend to contribute to the development of children from marginalized communities through the education of digital technology and creativity and by stimulating young people to experience new social roles and develop their identity. Learning in these informal settings puts demands on the organization of the makerspace, the activities, and the support of the children. The present study investigates how children evaluate their activities and experiences in a public library makerspace both in the after-school programs and during school visits. Furthermore, it examines the effectiveness of the training program for the makerspace coaches. The study covers self-evaluations by children ( n = 307), and interviews with children ( n = 27) and makerspace coaches ( n = 11). Children report a lot of experiences concerning creating (maker skills, creativity) and maker mindset (motivation, persistence, confidence). Experiences with collaboration (helping each other) were mentioned to a lesser extent. Critical features of the training program for makerspace coaches were (i) adaptation to the prior knowledge, skills and needs of makerspace coaches, (ii) input of expert maker educators, (iii) emphasis on learning by doing, (iv) room for self-employed learning, and (v) collaboration with colleagues. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41979-022-00070-w.
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Algorithmic affordances—interactive mechanisms that allow users to exercise tangible control over algorithms—play a crucial role in recommender systems. They can facilitate users’ sense of autonomy, transparency, and ultimately ownership over a recommender’s results, all qualities that are central to responsible AI. Designers, among others, are tasked with creating these interactions, yet state that they lack resources to do so effectively. At the same time, academic research into these interactions rarely crosses the research-practice gap. As a solution, designers call for a structured library of algorithmic affordances containing well-tested, well-founded, and up-to-date examples sourced from both real-world and experimental interfaces. Such a library should function as a boundary object, bridging academia and professional design practice. Academics could use it as a supplementary platform to disseminate their findings, while both practitioners and educators could draw upon it for inspiration and as a foundation for innovation. However, developing a library that accommodates multiple stakeholders presents several challenges, including the need to establish a common language for categorizing algorithmic affordances and devising a categorization of algorithmic affordances that is meaningful to all target groups. This research attempts to bring the designer perspective into this categorization.
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Algorithmic affordances are defined as user interaction mechanisms that allow users tangible control over AI algorithms, such as recommender systems. Designing such algorithmic affordances, including assessing their impact, is not straightforward and practitioners state that they lack resources to design adequately for interfaces of AI systems. This could be amended by creating a comprehensive pattern library of algorithmic affordances. This library should provide easy access to patterns, supported by live examples and research on their experiential impact and limitations of use. The Algorithmic Affordances in Recommender Interfaces workshop aimed to address key challenges related to building such a pattern library, including pattern identification features, a framework for systematic impact evaluation, and understanding the interaction between algorithmic affordances and their context of use, especially in education or with users with a low algorithmic literacy. Preliminary solutions were proposed for these challenges.
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Tijdens de sessie 'Human Library' van de circle Inclusie gaan leden JuanFra, Herco en Marjolijn in gesprek met deelnemers over de Human Library methode. Zij vertellen hoe deze methode prikkelt om te blijven investeren in je eigen docentschap en om innovatieruimte te creëren.
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