Betty Collis & Jef Moonen: Learning Technology

Approaches

How can researchers and practitioners work together to get results?

Two valuable ways to get the results that an institution, instructor or learner wants are:

Action Research, which involves trying to change a situation at the same time as trying to better understand it
Design & Development Research, which involves on-going cycles of feedback by the eventual users, as the product gradually takes shape

j0198099

How can the results be measured?

In addition to standard approaches such as test scores, attitude questionnaires, and analyses of indicators such as access and throughput, more interesting approaches relate to

Competence-based performance and portfolio assessment
Short- and long-term benefits for the institution, workplace, or community
Increased engagement with professional communities of practice

The challenge is that the results we may be most interested in, may only emerge over time or may be intangible.

In our own work, we regularly use Action and Design & Development research approaches, and we regularly tackle the challenge of measuring the intangible as well as tangible benefits of technology and learning. We use a simplified return-on-investment approach.

Last modified 11 March 2009