Achieving transformation, enhanced learning & innovation through educational resources in design
The project has now completed. The final report, evaluation and case studies are available from the bottom of the page.
Key Project Outputs |
- Detailed summary of six CDI studies that took place in Year 1. These summaries are outlined below within this report.
- Detailed summary of three PDI studies that took place in Year 2. These summaries are outlined below within this report.
URL: JISC Design Studio: https://jiscdesignstudio.pbworks.com/w/page/Atelier-D+Project
Atelier-D Website: http://designthinking.typepad.com/atelierd/about-atelierd.html - Overview Map of Technologies – provides an outline of the technologies employed as well as project progression. This is contained within this report.
URL: https://files.pbworks.com/download/cIgfMIs2R8/jiscdesignstudio/23283418 A number of video screencasts were created to guide students on how to use specific technologies. These include the following:
• An overview of the bespoke OU tool called OpenDesignStudio that outlines its main features and how to use it, including how to upload a photo, the pin-board and other activity areas and the importance of adding comments. This was used in the delivery of the new Level 1 course ‘Design Thinking’ (U101).
URL: Screencast.com: http://www.screencast.com/users/shornbare/folders/Jing/media/6341d988-0b3f-42bc-8f93-636c695caba0
• How to use CompendiumDS. These videos outline how to create a knowledge map using CompendiumDS (video 1); how to add text and images to a Compendium map (video 2) and how to link a Compendium map to external resources (video 3).
URL: Video One: http://www.screencast.com/users/SteveG2/folders/Jing/media/dc288349-cdde-437f-ab86-1668799f8f5b
Video Two: http://www.screencast.com/users/SteveG2/folders/Jing/media/16070530-063e-44ad-b18c-f48468619c3d A variety of ‘How-To’ Guides (PDF Documents) that were used during the implementation of the CDI studies to assist student participants in ‘Getting Started’ with particular technologies. These include the following:
• Getting Started with Facebook
• Getting Started with Compendium
• Getting Started with Elluminate (work-in-progress)
• Getting Started with Second Life
• Getting Started with Flickr
• Getting Started with OpenDesignStudio Additional PDF document guides were created for Compendium, which included ‘Compendium Trial Guidelines’, ’How to change a Compendium Icon’ and ‘About Compendium List Nodes’. These were created for CDI 2. The last two PDF documents were created during the study in response to students’ requests. Additional PDF documents were created to assist student participants to become familiar with Second Life. A ‘Quick Start’ document created by Second Life was used as it gave a good overview of how to access Second Life, what equipment you need and how to navigate once you arrive in Second life. The ‘Getting online with Second Life’ created by the Centre for Open Learning at the Open University (COLMSCT). A further introductory guide was created for CDI5, which focused upon the format and rule of the peer-2-peer assessment process (entitled ‘The Design Peer Review Studio’ A PDF document that outlines the Compendium questionnaire used as a data-gathering tool.
All the above can be found on the JISC Design Studio website within the ATELIER-D Page:
URL: JISC Design Studio https://jiscdesignstudio.pbworks.com/w/page/Atelier-D+Project A variety of images and video outputs have been taken from each of the CDI & PDI projects. The images included screenshots of the technology applications, outputs of students work used for analysis, plus both video and image outputs of students working during a session.
URL: JISC Design Studio https://jiscdesignstudio.pbworks.com/w/page/Atelier-D+Project Two Cloudworks discussions were created, the first begun on 27.11.09 to explore and define a design atelier. The second was created in June 2010 as a result of attending an OU conference in 2010.
URL: Cloudworks: ‘What is a Design Atelier’: http://cloudworks.ac.uk/index.php/cloud/view/2715 and ‘The Atelier-D Project’: http://cloudworks.ac.uk/cloud/view/3981 A number of Survey Questionnaires were created using GoogleDocs. These are:
• CDI 3- the Elluminate study. Two different surveys were generated using GoogleDocs, one was aimed at Tutors who have used Elluminate, the other survey was aimed at those Tutors who choose not to use Elluminate. The surveys can be downloaded here: URL: Elluminate Survey Form for Users and Elluminate Survey Form for Non-Users
• A student survey created for PDI 1 to explore students experiences while using OpenDesignStudio.
URL: OpenDesignStudio ‘Live GoogleDoc’ Survey Form: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGhZRnR1TW9VZFhWVG8zWUtJWkcyWVE6MQ#gid=0
• A survey aimed at Tutors to explore their use of technology within teaching was created for PDI 2.
URL: Tutor ‘Live GoogleDocs” Survey Form: https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dGMyaW8tbDljSXM3THRCRmt0bnpfTXc6MQ#gid=0
• Student survey of designing website to explore their experiences and opinions of this social networking site.
URL: designing ‘Live GoogleDocs’ Survey Form: https://spreadsheets.google.com/a/open.ac.uk/viewform?hl=en&pli=1&formkey=dEg3cXVHRTdxd0ZUc1RPOWN5YjVWb0E6MQ#gid=0
All the above are available on the JISC Design Studio website:
URL: https://jiscdesignstudio.pbworks.com/w/page/Atelier-D+Project A variety of materials and resources (including videos, links, photos etc) were produced as part of PDI 3 in the Ning network (www.desig.ning.com). These will be maintained and updated in the future for Levels 2 and 3 students. These include the following:
• Welcome Video: This introduces everyone to the OU DDEM Department by encouraging new members to introduce themselves by talking about their favourite design.
URL: NingWelcome Video: http://oudesig.ning.com/video/welcome-video
• A Common Design Problem Video: Encouraged discussion around a common design problem and asks if other members can think of similar design problems.
URL: Common Design Video: http://oudesig.ning.com/video/a-common-design-problem
• Draw Me Happy Video: Shows the outcome of an online consequences drawing game played by some members of the Ning site:
URL: Draw Me Happy Video: http://oudesig.ning.com/video/draw-me-happy-the-movie
• Members Profile Pictures – From all the Ning Members, which was produced when the membership reached 100 members:
URL: Profile Pictures: http://oudesig.ning.com/photo/who-are-you?context=featured
• A variety of Interesting Web Links were added to the site and have become a valuable resource for all members.
URL: Interesting Weblinks: http://oudesig.ning.com/forum/topics/interesting-weblinks
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Ongoing: dissemination of research findings and observation through publications and conference presentations aimed at the wider education community (see below) |
Overview
This two-year project engages seven academic staff plus assistant and steering group in the construction of a virtual atelier that combines well-established practice in art and design education with new opportunities presented by ICT to create a powerful new approach to learning and teaching design. It is founded on the delivery of three core Open University design courses (at Levels 1, 2 and 3) and their integration in a new design programme. The project platform will be OpenLearn, the Open University’s open content initiative plus other elements of the VLE and Web 2.0 tools.
Aims and Objectives
Aims:
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To transform design curriculum delivery at the OU – which already has significant elements of distance teaching and learning through technology
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To enhance the design learning of all students registered on the selected courses
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To innovate in a wider arena by sharing course and programme developments with other higher education institutions (HEIs) involved in design education
Objectives:
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To demonstrate how a virtual atelier might support distance learning and teaching in design at the OU
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To explore the potential of various virtual atelier tools and to define what skills these lead to
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To engage in dialogue with business and other HEIs to enhance the relevance of the student experience and to demonstrate wider applications for outputs
Project methodology
Year 1 activities focus on innovations to the delivery of the core design courses at Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 each of which explores aspects of the virtual atelier. These are here referred to as ‘course delivery innovations’ (CDIs). Work will explore how students can achieve existing course learning outcomes and what new learning outcomes might be possible through these CDIs. Year 2 activities build on the CDIs and focus on the design programme. Work will explore how technology can support the integration of these courses so that students achieve the programme learning outcomes plus identify what new learning outcomes might be desirable. Thus Year 2 creates and evaluates ‘programme delivery innovations’ (PDIs).
Anticipated outputs and outcomes
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A review of current models and mechanisms of delivery in design curricula
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Descriptions of virtual atelier tools
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An evaluation of the effectiveness of learning outputs and of student and staff engagement
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A series of case studies on curriculum delivery innovations
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Recommendations for the implementation of course delivery mechanisms in other HEIs through working with the steering group and other interested stakeholders
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Dissemination of CDIs including a second year project conference
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Evaluation of the programme learning outcomes
- A final report detailing how a virtual atelier can support distance learning and teaching in design
Lead Institution
The Open University
Project Staff
Principal Investigator:
Dr Steve Garner, Design, 01908 655784, s.w.garner@open.ac.uk
Project Manager:
Georgina Holden, Design, 01908 655024, g.m.holden@open.ac.uk
Project Team:
Dr Giselle Ferriera, Communication and Systems, 01908 659750, g.m.d.s.ferreira@open.ac.uk
Dr Peter Lloyd, Design, 01908 652944, p.lloyd@open.ac.uk
Dr Emma Dewberry, Design, 01908 332940, e.l.dewberry@open.ac.uk
Dr Nicole Schadewitz, Design, 01908 653618, n.schadewitz@open.ac.uk
Dr Theo Zamenopoulos, Design, 01908 655960, t.zamenopoulos@open.ac.uk