Digital ecosystems for collaborative learning: Embedding personal and collaborative devices to support classrooms of the future

Multi-touch tables, interactive whiteboards, motion sensitive interfaces, physical and tangible computers, all present enticing new functional affordances for learning. However, this constitutes a problem space for design, rather than any specific solution. What forms of learning can now be supported by a multi-user touch screen? How can such learning be incorporated into K-12, university, or informal learning designs? As new commercial offerings become available, it is timely for learning scientists and educators to explore how to best make use of these tools at the classroom. This workshop will offer a venue to discuss how to develop novel technology into supportive tools and intelligent mediators between peers' activity to build the classroom of the future. We will discuss the role of technology and its limitations along with the roles of teachers and students. This workshop gives participants the opportunity to experience such a classroom, share their work, discuss practical challenges and define an agenda for future work.