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Abstract

Human Technology is an interdisciplinary, scholarly journal that presents innovative, peer-reviewed articles exploring the issues and challenges surrounding human-technology interaction and the human role in all areas of our ICT-infused societies.Human Technology is published by the Agora Center, University of Jyväskylä and distributed without a charge online. TECHNOLOGIES TO SUPPORT LEARNING, WELL-BEING, AND COMMUNICATIONThe Finnish information society, including its school system, is facing many challenges at the moment. Decision makers, such as representatives of the Ministry of Education and Culture, have raised lively discussion on the basis of the recent PISA results. 1 The trend among Finnish students' performance in the PISA study during the last decade is descendant. Altogether, the recent studies indicate particular worries related to both negative attitudes and lack of motivation towards learning among Finnish students, as these factors seem to be coupled with the performance and learning outcomes (Hautamäki, Kupiainen, Marjanen, Vainikainen, & Hotulainen, 2013; Kupari et al., 2013).One of the suggestions for renewing our school practices is to develop innovative pedagogical and knowledge practices that also utilize technologies. Although technologies have been developed for educational purposes already for almost two decades, many practical questions remain outstanding. Certainly the issues of the availability (accessibility and cost) and demand for flexibility (time, place, and pace) in learning remain challenges for employing, for example, distance learning in most educational systems. Yet these are not the actual bottlenecks for the more widespread and productive use of technologies in teaching or learning. Rather, the challenge frequently relates to educators' hesitant attitudes toward their abilities in applying new pedagogical approaches and utilizing technologies to support them. Moreover, because traditional models of learning have not inspired researchers and teachers to develop innovative pedagogical practices, research and development work within the field has shifted toward a focus on creating many-sided pedagogical practices, specifically through utilizing technologies that can support students in their efforts for deeper learning and richer interaction. Research in the area of learning technologies has indicated both possibilities and challenges related to pedagogically meaningful use of technologies for learning.The development, educational professionals now call for research-based, smart solutions to support learning and performance within formal and informal educational, work-related, and everyday contexts. The "learn anytime, anywhere" approach, while offering much potential for innovative teaching and learning, is not without challenges. Certainly, ubiquitous computing can provide opportunities for embedding learning into everyday activities (Weiser, 1991). However, research and development work should focus on meaningful pedagogical use of mobile devices instead of merely users...