The Machine is Us/ing Us. Macchine sociali, piattaforme, educazione
Author(s)
Date Issued
2023
Type
article
Volume
9
Start Page
109
End Page
118
Journal
Abstract
The concept of “social machine”, used since the early years of the World Wide
Web to describe its deep dynamics, now finds further application to the context
of digital platforms in education. The evolution of the www and the emergence of
social machines as environments combining human interactions and technologies
have also played a role in transformative processes in education, enabling sometimes
radical interventions in the dynamics of interaction and learning. Reflection
on platformization, from time to time centered on legal, cultural, communicative
and educational aspects, inevitably leads to considering also educational platforms
as ecosystems that are not always fully understood in their complexity. The
architecture of lms platforms (Learning Management System) not infrequently
reflects – despite the increased opportunities for interaction and co-construction
of learning paths – traditional pedagogical approaches, showing the need for a
critical approach to platformization. The analysis of the use of artificial intelligence
and data in education, through methodological tools such as autoethnography
and participatory design, can help understand the structural interconnectedness
of culture and technology for activities that are more centered on student learning,
and characterized by a fuller integration of theory and practice.
Subjects