Open AccessUsing a Design Model as a Scaffold to Create Learning Tools: A Case Study with We! Connect Cards
Author(s) -
C.C. Littlefield,
Heather Toomey Zimmerman
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of designs for learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2159-449X
DOI - 10.14434/ijdl.v8i2.19076
Subject(s) - formative assessment , artifact (error) , computer science , context (archaeology) , interpersonal communication , instructional design , process (computing) , iterative and incremental development , knowledge management , human–computer interaction , process management , software engineering , multimedia , engineering , psychology , artificial intelligence , mathematics education , paleontology , social psychology , biology , operating system
This paper explores the development of We! Connect Cards, a card-based learning tool intended to support interpersonal relationships across various workplace and learning settings. The designed artifact is a card deck containing 60 cards with a question on the front and an action on the back. We discuss the development process of We! Connect Cards within the framework of a 5-phase design model. The purpose of our design paper is to share the design work of We! Connect Cards while exploring the utility of this model as a guide for creating and improving the design work. To understand the design case of We! Connect Cards, we draw upon relevant Human-Centered Design literature and concepts with an introduction to the chosen design model developed by the Stanford University d.school. Three test cases of the We! Connect Cards were conducted in a nonprofit, corporate, and higher education context. We include the scholarly discourse on the value of supporting interpersonal relationship development to situate the reader to the intended use scenario and learning outcome of this card-based tool. We organize the paper by the three iterative cycles of design, each within a nonprofit, corporate, and higher education context, to highlight the valuable insights and fruitful failures of each formative test case.