Multiple voices in ICT design with children – a nexus analytical enquiry

Abstract

Children's participation in information and communication technology (ICT) design is an established interdisciplinary research field. Methods for children's participation have been developed, but a closer link between theory and design has been called for, as well as an examination of various participants influencing children's participation in ICT design. This paper addresses these gaps by introducing the research strategy of nexus analysis as a promising theoretical framework. Especially the concepts of ‘interaction order’ and ‘historical body’ are utilised in the analysis of six empirical studies on ICT design with children. The analysis shows that through the participating children there were also ‘others’ involved, multiple voices to be heard, often invisible but informing design. Some of these ‘others’ have already been acknowledged in literature but the issue has not been examined in depth and common vocabulary for this is lacking. Some practical implications will be offered by illustrating how to consider these concepts in different phases of ICT design: when establishing relationships with children, involving children as participant designers and analysing the results of these participative processes.

Keywords:

• nexus analysis
• interaction order
• historical body
• involving children
• interaction design
• genuine participation

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the children, parents, teachers and other people who participated in the six empirical studies discussed in this paper.

Conflict of interest disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Tonja Molin-Juustila http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6494-134X

Notes

1. According to the Finnish school system, first graders are 6–7 years of age.