The social semantic server: A flexible framework to support informal learning at the workplace

Informal learning at the workplace includes a multitude of processes. Respective activities can be categorized into mul-tiple perspectives on informal learning, such as reection, sensemaking, help seeking and maturing of collective knowl-edge. Each perspective raises requirements with respect to the technical support, this is why an integrated solution rely-ing on social, adaptive and semantic technologies is needed. In this paper, we present the Social Semantic Server, an ex-tensible, open-source application server that equips client-side tools with services to support and scale informal learn-ing at the workplace. More specifically, the Social Semantic Server semantically enriches social data that is created at the workplace in the context of user-to-user or user-artifact interactions. This enriched data can then in turn be ex-ploited in informal learning scenarios to, e.g., foster help seeking by recommending collaborators, resources, or ex-perts. Following the design-based research paradigm, the Social Semantic Server has been implemented based on de-sign principles, which were derived from theories such as Distributed Cognition and Meaning Making. We illustrate the applicability and e cacy of the Social Semantic Server in the light of three real-world applications that have been developed using its social semantic services. Furthermore, we report preliminary results of two user studies that have been carried out recently.