Cycle 2 – Familiarizing with the mini scenarios

Last Thursday, the cycle 2 mini scenarios arrived. Based on a vote of the iTEC partners, 8 scenarios will be taken further to be fleshed out during a scenario development workshop organized by Future Lab later this month.

LeGroup met on Monday to familiarize with the mini scenarios, to ideate design inspirations and to understand reoccurring themes that could inform the further design of cycle 1 prototypes.

The discussion about the scenarios concluded with six ideas. Here, brief descriptions of the ideas followed by the related scenarios.

• Exploring the use of Scratch with (1) templates for simulations and (2) understanding the added value of using Scratch in combination with other communication tools on interactive whiteboards.
  Related scenarios: Real-life MST, Multi-literacies through MST
• Fast sharing of one or more screens: Classroom management systems currently let the teacher control when to share the work of learners with the class, for example by way of a wall projection. To build trust and community in the classroom,  a prototype for learners to chose when to share their screen with the entire class, was ideated.
  Related scenarios:
• Learners working in teams on projects of personal interests. Team work was explicitly mentioned in several scenarios, pointing towards the further design and development of TeamUP.
  Related scenario: Developing entrepreneurial minds, Students creating their own science museum, Real-life MST
• Sharing media pieces is a relevant element of several scenarios, suggesting the further design and development of PLATES. Gardening and food preparation related words, such as serving, ingredients and growing as well as the Promethean zoom-workspace may offer design inspiration.
  Related scenarios: Music for inclusion, Digital literacy mentoring
• Comparing information to understand complex concepts is an activity included in three scenarios. The activity relates to digital literacy, because the ability to read charts and other visualizations, the skill to collect data and a certain sensibility to comparing is essential for the activity.
  Related scenarios: Learning for service, Collaborative low-carbon schools, Think global, achieve local, Researching online bullying
• People bank is a term used in a large amount of scenarios. From the Participatory Design sessions in cycle 1, we recognized that formal support to establish learning networks is desired, but that there is a  high threshold to contact unknown people and to tap into the networks of others.
  Starting points: Visual links to geographical locations, Skype in schools, links to existing social networks, widgets for blogs, browsing Wikipedia users, Wikipedia categorization for expert topics, time-bank metaphor.
  Inspiring works: Tampere expert bank, Time-bank, LinkedIN
  Related scenarios: Developing entrepreneurial minds, Students creating their own science museum, Combining formative and summative assessment, Real life MST, Think global, achieve local, Parents and students as apprentices, Digital literacy mentoring

We are looking forward to the results of the scenario vote, to understand which design ideas to focus on!