Sociomateriality and Design – How Do We Un- Pack Technology for Knowing in Practice?

Blended e-learning permeates flexibility and school is no longer the only place for learning, rather through e-learning courses new ways of building competences throughout life and integrated in the workplace can be accomplished. Technological artifacts, the material itself do not create learning, rather, social and pedagogical aspects from a participatory perspective in e-learning courses is needed to balance the impact of technology. Challenges to reach balance between material and social is in this paper illustrated as a sociomaterial learning practice through a work-integrated e-learning (eWIL) project between a university and collaborating manufacturing industries. This learning practice comprise design of e-learning courses, target industry knowledge needs to reach for being a competent employee. Teachers’ and course participants’ activities show various challenges of workintegrated e-learning. Early results from focus group sessions and observations are categorized as knowing-how to design and use digital learning technology, knowing-what knowledge to be learnt for work practice and knowing-when to use new knowledge in work practice.