Acting with gardeners, technologies and strawberryplants

The Ph.d. course last week, “Acting with Technology” has really given food for thought. I am greatly inspired  in relation to the research methods I can use for my Ph.D.

The first day Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld lectured on the tradition of action research and its actuality and implementation.

The second day Pirkko Raudaskoski focused on Nexus analysis as a research framework for studying acting with technology. The last day  the topic  was User-driven innovation, needs and toolkits presented by Ellen Christiansen.

The lectures were spiced with exercises and opportunities for reflection and discussion about our own issues.

Ellen presented  a workshop exercise, which among other things, was to argue for the choice between hiring a gardener or an automatic irrigation

We were 8 PhD students (or future doctoral students) – a multicultural team with a genuine interest to understand each other’s research interests. Thus, we also enjoied ourselves and have fun during the Thursday evening dinner trip downtown.

 Lastly, on Friday we took part  in the  Ludinnoprojects final project

Students from Architecture and Design, Experience design, Interactive Digitale Media (Aalborg University) and Occupational Therapy (University College Nordjylland) had for 4 weeks been collaborating on cases provided by local companies and organisations. Through the application of state of the art user centered design methods the students presented their creation of innovative concepts.

User driven innovation, concept development and video methodology had been central for the workshop

Read more about the Ludinno project

 

My first Ph.d course

This week I´ll attend my first Ph.d course. It feels a little like a “false start” because I still have not finally been granted funding for the project. However, the course do seem to be interesting and actually, I am looking forward to it.

The course is entitled ‘Acting with technology – research methods on context and change’ and is facilitated by the “PhD-research programme “Human Centered Communication and Informatics”. The lecturers will present theories, tools and techniques for studying ‘acting with technology’ as well as academic literacy aspects of this ever changing subject.

My program today is preparing by reading, reading and re-reading …..

Book release

Last friday “Digitale medier og didaktisk design -brug, erfaringer og forskning” was released.

I have made a  contribution by an article together with Lone Dirckinck-Holmfeld, Torben Iversen, Marianne Riis, Merete Lindemann, Steener Oxbjerre, Torben Pihler and Dorthe S. Schmidt on collaboration in virtual learning environments based on Master in ICT and Learning thesis work 

The anthology is edited by Lars Birch Andreasen, Bente Meyer and Pernille Rattleff and has contributions from a number of researchers who discuss their experiences and research into the use of digital media in teaching and learning contexts. 

The anthology is dedicated to Professor Birgitte Holm Sorensen as a tribute to her work and the importance of research in the media, IT and learning in recent decades.

In this occasion, there is reception at the DPU Thursday 25th September 2008 kl. 16  (Room D170), Tuborgvej 164, 2400 Copenhagen NV. 

All are welcome! 

Brief Review of Folkeskolen.dk can be read here (in danish)