Technology to Support Children's Collaborative Interactions

This book explores how technology can foster interaction between children and their peers, teachers and other adults. “Nicola Yuill writes with clarity and expertise, pulling together knowledge from psychology, Human-Computer Interaction and practical work with children. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand digital technology as a tool for children’s interaction.” —Dr Rosalind Merrick, Speech and Language Therapist This book explores how technology can foster interaction between children and their peers, teachers and other adults. It covers in particular how technology can support children collaborate, so helping them to learn and engage positively with the world, in both work and play. It focuses on children, rather than young people, though the principles of supporting interaction mostly apply throughout all life stages. Chapters on classrooms and on autism explain principles behind using technology in ways that support, rather than obstruct, social interaction in diverse populations. Collaborative interaction involves both verbal and non-verbal behaviour and this book presents evidence from closely analysing children’s behaviour in natural settings. Examples from cutting-edge technology illustrate principles applying to more widely-available technology. The book will be of interest to psychologists, educators, those involved in Human–Computer Interaction (HCI), particularly those designing with children in mind, and many different practitioners working with children, who want to deepen their understanding of using technology for collaboration. Nicola Yuill is Professor of Developmental Psychology and director of the Children & Technology Lab (ChatLab) in the School of Psychology, University of Sussex, UK. She is co-director of the Autism…