Learning in/dependently in refugee camps: community-based perspectives on teaching, learning, and technology

The focus of this project is to understand the ways in which teaching, learning, and technology interact in/dependently in the daily lives of refugee people in Dzaleka Refugee Camp at home, in the community, and at school. Distinctly, we are asking questions about the role of technology in the everyday lives of refugee people in Dzaleka, and specifically related to how teaching and learning relationships are enacted with, about, and around tools that are of value to community members. This AoIR paper will be framed around two key components of this work. The first pertains to the methods in place, specifically, participatory qualitative research methods using remote, digital data collection. The second area of focus is on the preliminary findings from data collection underway between April-July 2021, based on the socio-technical exploration of teaching and learning with technology in Dzaleka. Our study, at present, focuses on three settings: online learning, music production and DJing, and sewing. This work sheds light on novel, in/dependent forms of teaching and learning in these areas in one refugee camp. And this work is needed to inform future technology initiatives in those settings from a community based perspective.