1. Mixhaus: Dissolving boundaries with a community maker space
- Author
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Foth, Marcus, Lankester, Ally, Hughes, Hilary E., Dezuanni, Michael L., Foth, Marcus, Mallan, Kerry M., and Hughes, Hilary E.
- Subjects
participatory action research ,120302 Design Innovation ,digital participation ,120304 Digital and Interaction Design ,connected learning ,community engagement ,living lab ,130101 Continuing and Community Education ,080602 Computer-Human Interaction ,130201 Creative Arts Media and Communication Curriculum and Pedagogy ,080709 Social and Community Informatics ,community informatics ,makerspace ,120305 Industrial Design ,139999 Education not elsewhere classified ,090699 Electrical and Electronic Engineering not elsewhere classified ,130212 Science Technology and Engineering Curriculum and Pedagogy ,fabrication lab - Abstract
This chapter reports on a social living lab project that sought to foster digital participation in a regional community. Going beyond the conventional focus on digital literacy, the study explores a participatory action research (PAR) initiative led by the local community to create and operate a community space called ‘Mixhaus’ set up in a disused shipping container. The aim was to create a mobile hack/maker space to allow for the experimental exploration of physical and digital materials. The chapter uses the notion of ‘boundary objects’ as a conceptual framework for our data analysis. The findings reveal challenges and opportunities that community members experienced through their participation in the Mixhaus initiative. On a conceptual level, the findings reveal how Mixhaus became a well-received and concrete example of translating abstract policy imperatives around regional innovation through science and technology. It also demonstrated both context and process for dissolving community boundaries. This continuing PAR project supports participatory responses to socio-economic decline within a particular regional community. More broadly, it addresses regional urbanisation and some of the challenges it triggers, such as youth and general unemployment, brain drain, as well as training and reskilling requirements.
- Published
- 2018