TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Design Techniques Anders Mørch TOOL 5100,

TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Outline Multiple design techniques Three in particular –Empirical-based design –Participatory design –Evolutionary design

TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Methods In the same way we have methods for evaluation we have methods for design I have chosen to put different approaches to design under the umbrella of “design techniques” and to focus on them in detail There are other ways to approach design, some of them more general, others specific

TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Design techniques Scenario-based design Empirical-based design Participatory design Theory-based design Evolutionary design The techniques are partially overlapping and are often used in combination

TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Scenario-based design Simulation of future (envisioned) use A textual description with (or without) screen mock ups depicting an imagined sequence of interactions with a simulated system The context of the setting should be included in the description, so that the scenario is meaningful to as many as possible (see PD) Two types –Generic (domain independent) –Specific (domain specific)

TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Empirical-based design (also called iterative design, prototyping) Suggest answers to empirical questions Involving real users in order to support their needs, not the needs of system developers, Iterations of system building and evaluation with users Evaluation is often done in “usability labs”, but can also be done using other means (see PD)

TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Participatory design User participation in the early phases of system development Users are considered equal partners with developers Often referred to as “Scandinavian approach” to system development (democratic design) Understand what goes on at the workplace and in the interaction between workers Technology is “mediating artefact” alongside other artefacts such as profession-oriented languages Mutual learning and use of low-fidelity prototyping techniques (see SBD & EBD)

TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Theory-based design Using theories to inform and ground a design A theory is sometimes used to create a conceptual model, which is then used to create a design Theories can also be used to create design principles Originated in HCI (user interface design) and have been successfully used in CSCW and CSCL Taken all the way, the theory is “built into” the user interface to express one or more ideas, e.g. : –Janus (reflection-in-action) –Coordinator (speech act theory) –FLE (progressive inquiry)

TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Evolutionary design Develop a new system based on an existing one This is often the default approach for many developers, even without being aware of it, because many developers have a repertoire of tools to build from Start from something that already works and available to low level inspection and code reuse Find out what can be improved and add the improvements to the existing working system Can be used in different ways –within one system (e.g. extending an open source system); –from one generation of system to another (e.g. product families); –and from one technology to another (mock up to computer display)

TOOL5100: CSCL Design techniques A. Mørch, Examples 1) Empirical based design and evolutionary design (DoCTA case) 2) Participatory design and evolutionary design (Statoil case)