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Design learning design

Design is Scale

I’ve just been listening to the We Are Open podcast interviewing Brian Alexander. During the discussion Brian talks about the idea of scale and needing to move between the micro through to the meso. This is something I’ve been fascinated in for quite some time and I’ve looking for words and terminologies to kind of […]

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Agile Learning Design Opinion

Ask Big Questions for Little Details

This is part of a series unpacking each of the Principles of Agile Learning Design. In the last post I spoke about purpose — this principle is how do we establish what that is. From the outset ask big questions – like how do you want to change students? What will they remember in 5 […]

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Agile Learning Design Opinion

Design with Purpose

This is part of a series unpacking each of the Principles of Agile Learning Design. Design with intent and purpose. Know what you want in the course and design it in. Ask and map out the points of Wow and Joy and design for them. We get to define the whole experience, so don’t leave […]

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Agile Learning Design Opinion

Understand the Constraints

Previously I’ve described design as problem solving within a set of constraints. It’s a definition I believe works across the various media and disciplines we might apply design to – web, graphics and yes learning. In my early career I was a graphic designer. I’ll admit that I was never the flashy kind, my work […]

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Design learning design Opinion

We design learning.

For the past few months, I’ve spent a bit of time working towards a definition of learning design that works for me. Definitions are really hard to do. They sound easy, but once you start to unpack things it gets quite difficult, very quickly. I don’t know if I’ve got my definition sorted yet, but […]

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Quotes

Designing under constraints

Design is the process of making goal-oriented choices under constraint. – David Wiley In his post David describes the challenge of designing for “open” when the (perceived) constraints of copyright loom over head. It reminded me that what shapes good design is not the goal but the set of constraints it must be done under. […]

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Design Ideas Opinion

The Missing Value of Quality

TL:DR – I posit that the single most important point of measure is missing from most of what we do with technology, education and work, and yet it has the biggest impact overall, effect on impact, usage, uptake and success. Quality. How do we get quality? Design. I read some really thought-provoking articles in the […]

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EdTech Ideas Opinion

The Tech Dilemma: Asking questions before solving problems in education

At the moment I am situated in the midst of a number of debates and discussion around technology and education. There are those around mobile and the desire to embrace this new suite of technologies. Those around innovative ideas and practices of technology and incorporating them into the mainstream. Technical discussions over formats, development processes, […]

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Quotes

Good Design and the Good Society

To many people good design is often regarded as an aesthetic veneer that can be peeled on and off, but good design should underscore all decisions about our environment, because it refers to how things work – not just how they look. Good design is about functionality, performance and quality as much as it is […]

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EdTech Education Mobile Opinion Technology

Applying Common Sense to Technology

Over the last couple of months I have become increasingly obsessed with the field of User Experience. The main reason is that I see a growing disconnect between technology and people. There is a lot of discussion about either/or but very little about how the two interplay, interact and intersect. One of my earliest uni […]