1. Crafting the Learning Experience Based on conversations with students at South Alabama and Hawaii Brent G. Wilson September 2008

2. Why did you choose this field? Technology can transform learning Good blend of my tech skills with preference working with people Help people Like making things

3. My Own Winding Road… 70s…. Instructional theory – from behaviorism to cognitivism 80s… Performance improvement and expert systems 90s… Constructivism and postmodern critique 2000s… Practice, values, and the learning experience

4. Do we have a quality problem? eLearning - rise and fall - rise again? Templates and Repurposing Professionalism - everyone’s a designer Evaluation - impact, cost control, ROI

5. “Nobody ever set out to make a bad picture” …or a bad course!

6. Why do poor courses get made? Lack of knowledge/skill Lack of tools Overriding constraints Don’t really care Notice: NOT lack of theory!

7. Leaving out the learner No real voice Input Ownership Meaningful participation

8. Videogame Envy Why can’t we make instruction as compelling as Halo ? Heard this before? It’s partly a red herring, and partly true.

9. Three ways to think about ID practice Scientific Theory Dedicated Craft Tools and Processes

10. The Hegemony of Psychology Learning theory is privileged over design practice Science over everyday craftsmanship Research over contextualized reasoning Engineering is over art Learning Sciences over IDT

11. Practitioners Using Theory South, Yanchar, & WIlson- Theory is barely on the radar! Irene Vissher report of reflection training Design grounded in theory (Hannafin) or problem (Wilson) Restoring the parity between practitioners and theorists

12. Designing what? Behavior Activity Materials Programs Learner Experience Thoughts Learning Programs

13. Experience Mediates Learning Experience Learning Plans

14. Two Senses of Experience Immediate “lived experience” Constructed experience - stories used to interpret our lives and

15. Lived experience Pacing Engagement Compelling Invitation Flow Challenge Heightened Awareness Suggestive, evocative

16. Constructed experience - rising to the story level What learning experience explains something about you? These can be transforming - shaping your sense of self; community membership; vocation

17. Experience as Transaction Our Minds Physical World Other People Our Bodies Virtual Worlds See Parrish & Wilson (2008)

18. The Living Dead Our students are often in need of redemption!

19. Bringing the Dead Back to Life Aesthetic qualities - heightened experience, drama, challenge Mythic qualities - hero’s journey, ritual, symbols Surrender to the situation - beyond teacher/learner control

20. Examples Scott Switzer’s management course Joni Dunlap’s Comp-Sci capstone course Kathy Sierra’s blog and Head First programming books Aaron Doering Adventure Learning Charlie Miller’s ASL Tutoring Materials Sasha Barab’s Quest Atlantis

21. Good vs Great Design Everyone loves good design But NOT everyone loves GREAT design Don Norman, Emotional Design (2004)

22. Holistic Practice Theory AND Practice Research and Design Engineering and Art Psychology and Design Craft Efficiency, Impact, and Quality Experience

23. Fin Questions? Thank you!