Includes bibliographical references and index.

Front Cover; Digital Participation Through Social Living Labs; Copyright Page; Contents; List of Contributors; Foreword; Living Labs Pioneer the Socio-Ecological Transitioning that Society Needs; References; Preface and Acknowledgements; 1 Social Living Labs for Digital Participation and Connected Learning; Digital Inclusion and Social Mobility; Digital Inclusion, Public Libraries, and Policy Discrepancies; From Living Labs to Social Living Labs; Creative Spaces, Connected Learning, and Innovation Ecologies; Conclusion: Social Living Labs as Digital Learning Ecologies; References. Further Reading2 Cultivating (Digital) Capacities: A Role for Social Living Labs?; Introduction; Conceptualizing Digital Technology Access and Use: A Brief History; Towards a Concept of Capacities for Digital Society; A Role for Social Living Labs?; Conclusion: Thinking the Digital Differently in Social Living Labs; References; Further Reading; 3 Digital Participation Through Artistic Interventions; Introduction; Summary of Projects; Schools Participation Across the Dark Forest and a Conversation Between Trees; Interpreting Data as Digital Participation. Visitor Participation in the Exhibition of A Conversation Between TreesTechnology Research as a Lived Experience; Conclusion; References; Further Reading; 4 Going Digital: Integrating Digital Technologies in Local Community Initiatives; Introduction; Background; Local Community Initiatives and Community Resilience; Digital Technologies for Collective Action; Settings and Research Methods; iGirls; Springboard; The iGirls Programme; The Bristol Pound; Aims, Features and Rules of Use; Research Methods; iGirls; Bristol Pound; Findings; Considerations of Fit and Compatibility With Values. Building and Sustaining Community CohesionMaintaining Trust; Negotiating Constraints and Possibilities Arising From Embeddedness; Discussion; Collective Identity Work and Technology Adoption; Extra-Community Infrastructure and Community Resilience; Conclusion; References; 5 The School as a Living Lab
The Case of Kaospilot; Introduction; Living Lab; Methodology; Kaospilot; A Brief History; A Brief Status Report; Programme; Philosophy; Pedagogy; Discussion; Conclusion; References; Further Reading; 6 Mixhaus: Dissolving Boundaries With a Community Makerspace; Introduction. Community Spaces and PartnershipsResearch Approach; Initial Concept Design; Shipping Container Fit-Out; Planning for Mixhaus Engagement; Crossing Boundaries; Organizational; Social; Disciplinary; Spatial; Conclusions; Acknowledgments; References; 7 Empowerment Through Making: Lessons for Sustaining and Scaling Community Practices; Introduction; Context; Afrikaanderwijk, Rotterdam; Schilderswijk, The Hague; Approach; Star(t) to Shine: A platform for empowerment; Searching for the Right Cocreative Partnerships; Cocreating a Plan for Empowerment; New Dutch Makers

Digital Participation through Social Living Labs connects two largely separate debates: On the one hand, high speed internet access and associated technologies are often heralded as a means to bring about not only connectivity, but also innovation, economic development, new jobs, and regional prosperity. On the other hand, community development research has established that access by itself is necessary but not sufficient to foster digital participation for the broadest possible range of individuals.

Edited by leading scholars from the fields of education, youth studies, urban informatics, librarianship, communication technology, and digital media studies, this book is positioned as a link to connect these debates. It brings together an international collection of empirically grounded case studies by researchers and practitioners from diverse backgrounds. They advance knowledge that fosters digital participation by identifying the specific digital needs, issues and practices of different types of communities as they seek to take advantage of access to digital technologies. Collectively, these cases propose new ways for enabling residents to develop their digital confidence and skills both at home and in their local community, particularly through a ‘social living labs’ approach. The book is organised around key focus areas: digital skills enhancement, youth entrepreneurship, connected learning, community digital storytelling, community-led digital initiatives and policy development.