Designing ThinkerSpaces: Research–Practice Partnerships for GenAI-Supported Collaborative Knowledge Building in STEM

Marcela Borge; Todd Shimoda

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-30542-8_3

Designing ThinkerSpaces: Research–Practice Partnerships for GenAI-Supported Collaborative Knowledge Building in STEM

Marcela Borge
, Todd Shimoda

Learning and Performance Systems

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

As STEM challenges grow more complex—interwoven with climate change, public health, infrastructure crises, and rapid technological shifts—educational systems face a growing mismatch between what learners are asked to solve and how they are prepared to solve it. While generative AI (GenAI) offers new possibilities, it also introduces tensions that may reinforce outdated paradigms and deepen existing inequities. In this paper, we propose a design framework for ThinkerSpaces: community-connected, technology-rich learning environments built through research–practice partnerships (RPPs). Grounded in human-centered design and collaborative regulation theory, ThinkerSpaces position GenAI not as an answer machine, but as a tool for learners to use to enhance their thinking processes, the role of which must be strategically negotiated. We argue that educational transformation requires environments where learners collaboratively build knowledge, negotiate the ethical use of technology, and strengthen their collective intelligence.

Original language	English (US)
Title of host publication	Learning and Collaboration Technologies - 13th International Conference, LCT 2026, Held as Part of the 28th HCI International Conference, HCII 2026, Proceedings
Editors	Brian K. Smith, Marcela Borge
Publisher	Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages	43-61
Number of pages	19
ISBN (Print)	9783032305411
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-30542-8_3
State	Published - 2026
Event	13th International Conference on Learning and Collaboration Technologies, LCT 2026, held as part of the 28th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2026 - Montreal, Canada Duration: Jul 26 2026 → Jul 31 2026

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Computer Science
Volume	16731 LNCS
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	13th International Conference on Learning and Collaboration Technologies, LCT 2026, held as part of the 28th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2026
Country/Territory	Canada
City	Montreal
Period	7/26/26 → 7/31/26

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
SDG 13 Climate Action

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Theoretical Computer Science
General Computer Science

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-30542-8_3

Cite this

Borge, M., & Shimoda, T. (2026). Designing ThinkerSpaces: Research–Practice Partnerships for GenAI-Supported Collaborative Knowledge Building in STEM. In B. K. Smith, & M. Borge (Eds.), Learning and Collaboration Technologies - 13th International Conference, LCT 2026, Held as Part of the 28th HCI International Conference, HCII 2026, Proceedings (pp. 43-61). (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 16731 LNCS). Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-30542-8_3

Borge, Marcela ; Shimoda, Todd. / Designing ThinkerSpaces : Research–Practice Partnerships for GenAI-Supported Collaborative Knowledge Building in STEM. Learning and Collaboration Technologies - 13th International Conference, LCT 2026, Held as Part of the 28th HCI International Conference, HCII 2026, Proceedings. editor / Brian K. Smith ; Marcela Borge. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026. pp. 43-61 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science).

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abstract = "As STEM challenges grow more complex—interwoven with climate change, public health, infrastructure crises, and rapid technological shifts—educational systems face a growing mismatch between what learners are asked to solve and how they are prepared to solve it. While generative AI (GenAI) offers new possibilities, it also introduces tensions that may reinforce outdated paradigms and deepen existing inequities. In this paper, we propose a design framework for ThinkerSpaces: community-connected, technology-rich learning environments built through research–practice partnerships (RPPs). Grounded in human-centered design and collaborative regulation theory, ThinkerSpaces position GenAI not as an answer machine, but as a tool for learners to use to enhance their thinking processes, the role of which must be strategically negotiated. We argue that educational transformation requires environments where learners collaboratively build knowledge, negotiate the ethical use of technology, and strengthen their collective intelligence.",

author = "Marcela Borge and Todd Shimoda",

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Borge, M & Shimoda, T 2026, Designing ThinkerSpaces: Research–Practice Partnerships for GenAI-Supported Collaborative Knowledge Building in STEM. in BK Smith & M Borge (eds), Learning and Collaboration Technologies - 13th International Conference, LCT 2026, Held as Part of the 28th HCI International Conference, HCII 2026, Proceedings. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 16731 LNCS, Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, pp. 43-61, 13th International Conference on Learning and Collaboration Technologies, LCT 2026, held as part of the 28th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2026, Montreal, Canada, 7/26/26. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-30542-8_3

Designing ThinkerSpaces: Research–Practice Partnerships for GenAI-Supported Collaborative Knowledge Building in STEM. / Borge, Marcela; Shimoda, Todd.
Learning and Collaboration Technologies - 13th International Conference, LCT 2026, Held as Part of the 28th HCI International Conference, HCII 2026, Proceedings. ed. / Brian K. Smith; Marcela Borge. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2026. p. 43-61 (Lecture Notes in Computer Science; Vol. 16731 LNCS).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

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T2 - 13th International Conference on Learning and Collaboration Technologies, LCT 2026, held as part of the 28th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2026

AU - Borge, Marcela

AU - Shimoda, Todd

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - As STEM challenges grow more complex—interwoven with climate change, public health, infrastructure crises, and rapid technological shifts—educational systems face a growing mismatch between what learners are asked to solve and how they are prepared to solve it. While generative AI (GenAI) offers new possibilities, it also introduces tensions that may reinforce outdated paradigms and deepen existing inequities. In this paper, we propose a design framework for ThinkerSpaces: community-connected, technology-rich learning environments built through research–practice partnerships (RPPs). Grounded in human-centered design and collaborative regulation theory, ThinkerSpaces position GenAI not as an answer machine, but as a tool for learners to use to enhance their thinking processes, the role of which must be strategically negotiated. We argue that educational transformation requires environments where learners collaboratively build knowledge, negotiate the ethical use of technology, and strengthen their collective intelligence.

AB - As STEM challenges grow more complex—interwoven with climate change, public health, infrastructure crises, and rapid technological shifts—educational systems face a growing mismatch between what learners are asked to solve and how they are prepared to solve it. While generative AI (GenAI) offers new possibilities, it also introduces tensions that may reinforce outdated paradigms and deepen existing inequities. In this paper, we propose a design framework for ThinkerSpaces: community-connected, technology-rich learning environments built through research–practice partnerships (RPPs). Grounded in human-centered design and collaborative regulation theory, ThinkerSpaces position GenAI not as an answer machine, but as a tool for learners to use to enhance their thinking processes, the role of which must be strategically negotiated. We argue that educational transformation requires environments where learners collaboratively build knowledge, negotiate the ethical use of technology, and strengthen their collective intelligence.

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T3 - Lecture Notes in Computer Science

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ER -

Borge M, Shimoda T. Designing ThinkerSpaces: Research–Practice Partnerships for GenAI-Supported Collaborative Knowledge Building in STEM. In Smith BK, Borge M, editors, Learning and Collaboration Technologies - 13th International Conference, LCT 2026, Held as Part of the 28th HCI International Conference, HCII 2026, Proceedings. Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH. 2026. p. 43-61. (Lecture Notes in Computer Science). doi: 10.1007/978-3-032-30542-8_3

Designing ThinkerSpaces: Research–Practice Partnerships for GenAI-Supported Collaborative Knowledge Building in STEM

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Access to Document

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