ETUG Webinar7 July 2015

A CHAT ABOUT AGILE DESIGN

Dr. Tony Bates,Tony Bates Associates Ltd,

Vancouver, BC, Canada

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Overview

Overview• Brief intro• What is agile design?• Why agile design?• Under what conditions does

it work best?• Guidelines for effective agile

design?© Rawsthorne, P., 2012

Introduction

• I’m not an expert on agile learning design

• There is a literature on this

• Even this is not flexible enough

• Throw out some ideas then chat with you

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© C. Adamson, 2012

What is agile design?

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• Derived from software development

• A process for responding to complex learning environments

• Many different approaches

© J. Huhn, 2013

Why agile design?

For designers in a VUCA world:

• V olatile

• U ncertain

• C omplex

• A mbiguous

For learners to develop survival skills in a VUCA world

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© C. Adamson, 2012

When to use agile design?

1. Rapidly changing subject matter

2. Diverse learners with different learning needs

3. Rapidly changing or many diverse tools for teaching/learning

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Guidelines for agile design1. Clear, broad learning

goals predetermined by instructor

2. Sub-goals negotiated with learners

3. Core learning materials/tools chosen by instructor

4. Other learning materials/tools identified/evaluated/applied by learners

5. Assessment based on pre-defined criteria (negotiated - or chosen by instructor?)

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© P. Rawsthorne, 2012

Conditions for success• Confident, skilled instructors

• Clear goals in terms of skills development for learners

• Proper preparation/orientation for learners

• Easily accessible and appropriate open resources and learning tools

• Flexible assessment methods that measure skills developed by learners

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There must be a strong pedagogical

foundation in the design team

Discussion

• Experience of agile design?

• What do you see as the main challenges?

• When do you think agile design is most appropriate?

• What would you add re conditions for success?

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Personalized Learning Tools was

designed and created by Bryan

Bucci, James Chen, Rebecca

Harrison, Coral Kennett, and

Paula Poodwan

References

• Adamson, C. (2012) Learning in a VUCA world, Online Educa Berlin News Portal, November 13

• Bertram, J. (2013) Agile Learning Design for Beginners New Palestine IN: Bottom Line Performance

• Rawsthorne, P. (2012) Agile Instructional Design St. John’s NF: Memorial University of Newfoundland: http://www.rawsthorne.org/bit/docs/RawsthorneAIDFinal.pdf

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