Symposium 13: Rethinking Virtual Space as a Place for Sociability

Theory and Design Implications

Abstract

In this article, we offer theoretical reflections on the notion of place in which learners supposedly develop and evolve a structure of social interactions in networked learning environments. We claim that a general concern is to develop more social artefacts that may help learners organise the virtual place in a way that is meaningful to them and helps foster their social presence. Drawing from symbolic interactionism we examine the ways in which individuals interact with their environment, and from Activity theory, Wenger’s communities of practice, and Wartofsky's taxonomy of artefacts to elaborate on the notion of social artefact.