My design challenge question was how can I help instructors efficiently determine the best learning technology tools for their instructional activities?
I reviewed the empathy methods described in the Bootcamp Bootleg (Stanford University Institute of Design, 2016) and the Design Kit (IDEO, 2015) and decided that individual interviews will be my empathy method.
This empathy method was selected because I believe it will allow me to gain a deeper understanding of instructors thoughts, emotions, and motivations, allowing me to provide a more innovative solution that will have a better chance of meeting their needs.
I will prepare interview questions and study the learning technology tool choices that the instructors have made before interviewing them. I will ask questions such as why they made the choices they made, how they turned out, and what sort of tools or resources may have helped them make better choices.
References
IDEO. (2015). Design Kit – Methods. Retrieved from http://www.designkit.org/methods
Stanford University Institute of Design. (2016). Bootcamp Bootleg. Retrieved from http://dschool-old.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/METHODCARDS-v3-slim.pdf
Hi Jason,
When conducting interviews are you choosing instructors based on the field of study, department, or faculty? Or are you attempting to keep it open to whoever you can connect with? I wonder, for example, if you only met with MALAT instructors (who are likely more familiar with digital learning environments) how might that yield different results than say environmental studies instructors or somebody with less comfort in that area?
Hi Katie,
The plan is to interview select instructors that I have a good rapport with who work on campus. I much prefer face-to-face interviews over phone or online interviews. None of the ones I currently have in mind are in MALAT.
If this was a “real” research project that I was planning to publish, I’d interview more instructors and try to cover instructors from different schools and programs, and possibly pair it with a survey.
Thanks for your questions!