Recent technological developments in the field of ICT have a major impact on our work and social experiences. With the help of interaction designers and their strategies to make technology work for the human condition, we can rightly claim that ICT tools add real value to our lives in various areas. Unfortunately, this is not the case when looking at education. Here, it seems as though things are moving slower than anywhere else. In the following article, which is based on my presentation at IxDA conference this January in Toronto, I’d like to propose various engagement points for interaction designers to make technology count for education. A “user experience” of schooling The prevalent learning experience •Learning is seen as work, even by primary school kids •Learning is disconnected from ‘real-life’ experiences of learners •Learning is usually restricted to a classroom •Learners are divided into age groups; irrespective of personal development •Learners have little or no influence on learning content and methods •An insufficient integration of information technology and interfaces My wish list for 21st century learning experience •Learning should be rewarding and propelled through curiosity inherent to human nature •Learning should be linked to real world experiences and challenges •Learning should be open to the activities outside of the classroom (e.g. flipped classroom) •Learn groups should be flexible toward personal interest and progress •Learners should influence what they learn and how •Learners should have access to state of the art technology So, what is the scope of interaction design for learning? Whilst everybody talks about changing learning through technology, I am more concerned about the successful integration of technology to support the condition of learning through interaction design. As we speak policy makers spend huge budgets to fit out computer labs for the sake of introducing technology to schools oblivious to the fact that computer labs and the particular interaction this enforces are a thing of the past. A report by the New Media Consortium (NMC) released this January suggests six key technologies for learning in pre-college education (K-12) to be adopted within 1-5 years. It becomes obvious that the effectiveness of these technologies is tightly linked to interaction design. Short-term (within 12 months) •Mobile devices and apps •Tablet computing Mid-term (within 2-3 years) •Game-based learning •Personal learning environments (PLE’s) Long-term (within 5 years) •Augmented reality •Natural user interfaces In the following passage, I am going to explain the potential of these technologies laying out some challenges for interaction design whilst bringing several examples of our work at Formula D interactive. For the full transcrip please visit: www.designtalk.co.za

1. Interaction design for learning
Michael Wolf

2. Playfield

3. WHAT IS INTERACTION DESIGN?
‘
Interaction Design (IxD) defines the
structure and behaviour of interactive
systems. Interaction Designers strive to
create meaningful relationships between
people and the products and services that
they use, from computers to mobile
devices to appliances and beyond.
Our practices are evolving with the world;
join the conversation.

4. THE DISCIPLINES OF USER EXPERIENCE [DAN SAFFER]
‘
School experience/
slidehsow classrooms

5. USER EXPERIENCE, USER INTERFACE, INTERACTION DESIGN
Dinosaur
agbeat.com

6. USER EXPERIENCE, USER INTERFACE, INTERACTION DESIGN
Dinosaur
agbeat.com

7. USER EXPERIENCE, USER INTERFACE, INTERACTION DESIGN
Dinosaur
agbeat.com

8. USER EXPERIENCE, USER INTERFACE, INTERACTION DESIGN
Dinosaur

9. USER EXPERIENCE, USER INTERFACE, INTERACTION DESIGN
Dinosaur
agbeat.com

10. PERSONAS

11. STORYBOARDS & USE SCENARIOS

12. WIREFRAME DIAGRAMMES

13. WIREFRAME DIAGRAMMES

14. THE SCOPE FOR INTERACTION DESIGN IN EDUCATION
Computer Labs

15. TECHNOLOGICAL OUTLOOK IN CLASSROOMS
Short-term (within 12 months)
NMC report
Mobile devices and apps
Tablet computing
Mid-term (within 2-3 years)
Game-based learning
Personal learning environments (PLE’s)
Long-term (within 5 years)
Augmented reality
Natural user interfaces

16. Mobile devices and apps

18. IPAD USE IN SOUTH AFRICAN SCHOOL
Ipad video

19. OLPC study in rural Ethiopia
Wenchi kids

20. Game-based learning

21. LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
Functional play Constructive play Role play

22. LEARNING THROUGH GAMES
Constructive play Role play

24. Personal Learning Environments

25. EDUCATION HIGHWAY
Highway

26. SMRT.RS
SMRT.RS

27. FUTURE PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

28. FUTURE PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
LEARNING
TIMELINE

29. FUTURE PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
LEARNING FOCUS ZONE
TIMELINE

30. FUTURE PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
LEARNING FOCUS ZONE MODULE
TIMELINE MALL

31. FUTURE PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
LEARNING FOCUS ZONE MODULE SCHEDULING
TIMELINE MALL ASSISTANT

32. FUTURE PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
LEARNING FOCUS ZONE MODULE SCHEDULING
TIMELINE MALL ASSISTANT
LEARNING
NETWORK

33. FUTURE PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
LEARNING FOCUS ZONE MODULE SCHEDULING
TIMELINE MALL ASSISTANT
LEARNING LEARNING
NETWORK PATH TOOL

34. FUTURE PERSONAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
LEARNING FOCUS ZONE MODULE SCHEDULING
TIMELINE MALL ASSISTANT
LEARNING LEARNING EVALUATION
NETWORK PATH TOOL CENTRE

35. Augmented Reality for Learning

36. SKYVIEW
Photo of pat busch

37. SCHOOL KIDS USING SKYVIEW IN CLASS

38. RECYCLING FLOOR PROJECTION
‘
Recycling clip

40. Natural User Interfaces

41. CO-LOCATED COLLABORATION
‘

42. FROG WALL MULTI-USER EXPERIENCE
Multi-user touch wall

43. Tangible interfaces

44. VIRTUAL CHEMISTRY LAB TABLE
‘

45. USER TESTING AT GIRLS’ SCHOOL
‘

46. CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
‘

47. CONCLUSION
‘
Current learning environments suffer
from bad user experiences.
As technology tools bring
opportunities to innovate dated
learning environments, interaction
design is a critical factor to ensure
that technology interfaces are
perfectly fitted for specific content
and user groups.

48. SPEAK TO ME
‘
Michael Wolf : @michael_w_wolf
michael@formula-d.com