Designing Learning Tools. Methodological Insights
Teemu Leinonen · Aaltodoc (Aalto University) · 2010
The study relies on my personal involvement and experience gained by participating in design processes of four distinct and experimental software tools that aimed to enhance learning in different contexts. I use two research strategies: I build a research framework by referring to excerpts from selected theoretical and philosophical background sources relating to the design of learning tools, and present reflection on design action of the four design cases. The design cases can be viewed as practical experiments and strategies to reach a developmental and expansive, constantly developing design process while moving from one design project to another. In the dissertation I present three methodological insights: (1) Design research relying on practice should follow a certain research-based design process, (2) designers should aim and accept that design is often based on informed guessing, and (3) designers should be aware of the need to move between different knowledge interests. Furthermore, I argue that there is a need for academic practice-based design research of learning tools. This is especially important when more and more learning is mediated by digital technology. Design research can deliberate and bring alternative approaches to the discussion; it can be critical and comprehensive.