Multimedia Learning

EDCI 337, Interactive Multimedia Learning | August 2019 A. Traore

1

Module 2 – Design Thinking

Module description:

This is the second module in the theoretical portion of the course. It introduces you to

design thinking, and how it applies to multimedia learning. After studying the

materials in this module, you should be able to:

▪ Define design thinking and its underlying principles

▪ Describe the process of design thinking

▪ Apply the principles of design thinking to multimedia learning

The module in a nutshell:

Design thinking can be defined as the ability to design a unique solution to a problem

by considering the particularities of the problem, its context, people who are affected

by it, and the context in which the solution will be implemented. For example when

designing a multimedia learning solution, you must be able to come up with a unique

product that takes into account learners’ characteristics, learning goals, learning

context, and the context in which learned skills will be applied.

Some important design thinking guidelines:

▪ Blend your knowledge of theories and principles, past experiences, and

information about the problem with your imagination to come up with the best

solution adapted to the problem

▪ Be multidisciplinary by borrowing idea from many disciplines, and look at the

problem from many perspectives. Remember! the idea of design thinking was

borrowed from other fields of design, such as architecture and engineering,

into instructional design

▪ Reflection-in-action: keep adjusting the design as you gain more insights of

the problem and as you evaluate your actions and their consequences until you

find the best solution

Design process can be seen as the steps that you can follow to come up with a new

solution. In the case of multimedia learning, we can identify design process in the

following steps:

1. Gather information about learners: background, current knowledge, needs for

learning, context in which learning will be applied, etc.

EDCI 337, Interactive Multimedia Learning | August 2019 A. Traore

2

2. Organize information that you gathered into identifiable patterns to see the

bigger picture, so you can set goals that serve learners’ needs

3. Suggest some multimedia learning solutions based on learning goals

4. Build a few learning solutions and determine criteria for evaluating them

5. Select a solution and try it, and keep adjusting it until perfection

You are required to explore the following materials:

Note: links to these materials are on the module main page.

Plattner, H. (2015). An introduction to design thinking PROCESS GUIDE. Retrieved from:

http://dmeforpeace.org/sites/default/files/Design%20Thinking%20Process%20Guide.pdf

Brenner, W., Uebernickel, F., & Abrell, T. (2016). Design Thinking as Mindset, Process,

and Toolbox: Experiences from Research and Teaching at the

University of St. Gallen. In F. Uebernickel (Author) & W. Brenner (Ed.), Design

Thinking for Innovation: Research and Practice (pp. 3-21). Cham: Springer.

Retrieved from: https://link-springer-

com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-319-26100-3_1.pdf

This document simplifies design thinking by giving simple examples from many

perspectives. It also explains how design thinking can be looked at as a mindset, a

process, a tool or a method.

An Introduction to Design Thinking: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm4rbfa8tCM

This video is brief description of design thinking process in education.

What is Design Thinking (2015): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V5BwTrQOCs

This video explains design thinking process with a real example.

Tim Brown urges designers to think big: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAinLaT42xY

This video is an insightful explanation of design thinking.

The following reading is optional:

Tracey. M. W. and Baaki, J. (2014). Design, designers, and reflection-in-action. In

Hokanson, B., & Gibbons, A. S. (Eds.), Design in educational technology:

design thinking, design process, and the design studio (pp. 1-13). Retrieved

June 12, 2017, from https://link-springer-

com.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-319-00927-8_1.pdf

You can read this chapter to have a broader understanding of theoretical foundations

and principles of design thinking as it applies to instructional design.