Design and development of examples to support authentic professional learning

A participative process

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a second phase of an evaluation of a set of example units (online teaching spaces). These were developed using a participative design process during a University's transition to a new Learning Management System. The first phase considered how the products were consumed as learning objects, and raised questions as to whether further work on example units was worthwhile; this second phase considers the impact of the process of development itself. Using a Developmental Evaluation approach, the paper analyses the reflections of a sample of participating academics and educational design and development staff, captured in semi-structured interviews. Both groups' experiences indicate that the process of creating the example units netted significant benefits for their own professional learning and that of their colleagues, as well as for the wider change management program. The implications of these findings for institutional practices and future research are outlined.