Andrew Dekker

Are they using my feedback? The extent of students’ feedback use has a large impact on subsequent academic performance

Feedback is known to have a large influence on student learning gains, and the emergence of online tools has greatly enhanced the opportunity for delivering timely, expressive, digital feedback and for investigating its learning impacts. However, to date there have been no large quantitative investigations of the feedback provided by large teams of markers, feedback use by large cohorts of students, nor its impact on students’ academic performance across successive assessment tasks. We have developed an innovative online system to collect large-scale data on digital feedback provision and use. Our markers (n = 38) used both audio and typed feedback modalities extensively, providing 388 ± 4 and 1126 ± 37 words per report for first- and second-year students, respectively. Furthermore, 92% of first year and 85% of second-year students accessed their feedback, with 58% accessing their feedback for over an hour. Lastly, the amount of time students spent interacting with feedback is significantly related to the rate of improvement in subsequent assessment tasks. This study challenges assertions that many students do not collect, or use, their feedback. More importantly, we offer novel insights into the relationships between feedback provision, feedback use and successful academic outcomes.

Exploring virtual representations of physical artefacts in a multi-touch clothing design collaboration system

This paper describes a pilot study that investigates how a multi-touch system can support remote collaboration within the clothing design and manufacturing industries. We first examine and discuss the existing collaboration processes and issues found in the day-to-day operations of the clothing industry. To further refine our understanding of what forms of collaboration are important when discussing design and manufacturing techniques, we conducted an ethnographic study with fashion design students. Based on this background research, we designed, developed and evaluated a multi-touch gestural prototype interface. We conclude with reflections on whether collocated natural interactions can be extended remotely via technology.

Discovery table exploring the design of tangible and ubiquitous technology for learning in preparatory classrooms

In this paper we investigate how technologies can be designed to support learning in preparatory classrooms by augmenting existing learning objects. By following an iterative interaction design process of working with teachers and children within the classroom environment, we can better design technologies through the augmentation (rather than replacement) of existing learning activities. Our case study -- the Discovery Table -- uses a variety of technologies to allow everyday plastic symbols of letters and numbers to be placed on a technology augmented table in order to provide visual, audible and tangible feedback to the children. Discovery Table demonstrates a first step towards more fundamental work towards successful design for tangible learning.

NNUB: the neighbourhood nub digital noticeboard system

Nnub is a community digital noticeboard situated in a public space within a community where many people pass by in their daily routines. Nnub is also accessible via the web. Locals upload notices and images to the noticeboard via a web/phone interface or by scribbling directly on the touchscreen. In the spirit of Web2.0, anyone can upload. Nnub aims to better support community communications simply and visually through simple interactions that mesh with and build upon existing community practices. It also aims to inspire new forms of sharing and connection. Nnub is short for Neighbourhood nub.

Designer-client communication in web design: a case study on the use of communication in practice

This paper reflects on a participant observational study that was conducted during a long-term iterative design project in which there was a high level of digital communication between the designers and clients. We describe a number of communication technologies that were employed to support the designer-client communication, and examine how successful they were in supporting this work. In our reflection we find that although the nature of digital communication between participants appears straightforward, there are a number of complexities in the roles and messiness that occurs throughout the design process. We examine how these channels were used in tandem to effectively communicate between the stakeholders, and explore why some technologies (primarily email) were more successful than others. Finally, we describe a number of patterns that emerged within the overall narrative, and reflect on ways in which these tools could be considered and designed in the future to better support this kind of project work.

Social software and interactions in web design: an in situ exploration of tools & methods to support designer-client communication

This paper outlines the scope, approach and current progress of a thesis which is investigating the role that Computer Mediated Communication (CMC) plays in supporting the design process within the web design industry. Specifically, the thesis investigates designerclient communication, and explores the issues with technologies to support this communication. This research is situated within the field of Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW). Web design businesses use a variety of CMC tools to support communication with their clients; however they must rely on general purpose tools which the client has prior knowledge of. Social Software solutions which can better support these processes have yet to become adopted within the industry. The research question for this work is how can Social Software be better designed to support designer-client communication within web design businesses? A platform that facilitates the creation of Social Software will be designed, deployed and evaluated in situ to investigate the problems and opportunities for Social Software within this space. An iterative design process will be used to develop and evaluate the platform through the use of ethnographic action research and design thinking methods. The aim of the platform is to reduce the challenges of introducing new software into web design businesses, and evaluate the platform through participatory design studies of developing new tools which better support the design process. The results of the platform will be used to inform a design framework for Social Software designers wanting to develop tools to support communication in this context.

A Situated Display for Local Community Participation: The Design and Use of Nnub

This paper discusses the design and use of a digital community noticeboard (called Nnub) located at a suburban general store. The intention is to design Information and Communication Technology (ICT) such as Situated Displays and Internet Technologies to support local communications. We use a Reflective, Agile, and Iterative Design (RAID) framework to evolve the technology, aiming to engage local residents in creating an evolving collection of images, notices and scribbles by the community and for the community. A key contribution of this work is the understanding of the interaction requirements needed to support and engage the local community that were discovered through the iterative design and deployment method.