Category Archives: Communication

Meetup 06: DIAgram Model

Meetup 6 featured Kate Tregloan and her team’s work on implementing distance learning design support for architecture and design at the University of Melbourne, Australia. The presentation was based on the work presented in the article BEL+T designs a DIAgram … a relational framework for teaching online, outlining both the vision of the team as wellContinue reading “Meetup 06: DIAgram Model”

The Guide to Creating Distance Design Courses is finally here!

As noted in this post, it’s been a bit quiet because time’s gone into producing the new guide for Creating Distance Design Courses, which is now available here: https://distancedesigneducation.com/creating-distance-design-courses/ It took a bit longer than expected (it started out as a blog post but ended up being a 20k word monster!), so there’s a fewContinue reading “The Guide to Creating Distance Design Courses is finally here!”

Recipe: Making the design process visible

Lawson famously noted that, in observing the design process, “…there is not a lot of action to be seen and what is there cannot be readily understood.” (Lawson, 2005 p.216). This gives us a bit of a challenge in distance design education: if it’s hard enough to ‘see’ it in a traditional setting, how doContinue reading “Recipe: Making the design process visible”

Recipe: One-shot video

Time and location often challenges collaboration and rich communication. We often struggle to convey the details of our work when people are not present. A short, rough video can capture what is already “on the table” without the need for extra notes. Get others close to your thoughts and progress by sharing content and thinkingContinue reading “Recipe: One-shot video”

Recipe: Podcasting for Learning

Audio is one of the oldest methods of distance education. Listening to informed and entertaining speakers can be a great imaginative learning experience. The ease of making a podcast coupled with great accessibility and low cost of producing professional sounding podcasts makes them a valuable tool in the distance learning toolbox. If you’ve never consideredContinue reading “Recipe: Podcasting for Learning”

Seven Ways to Move Your Design-based Class Online

Yes, your design-based or empathy-based course activities can move online. You can do this! I’ve been teaching design classes in a blended manner (a mix of digital and in-person) since about 2007. This blended approach helped me communicate with students while I was doing consulting work abroad and helped me continue teaching during my pregnancy.Continue reading “Seven Ways to Move Your Design-based Class Online”

Recipe: Motivating students working remotely

By Georgy Holden, Senior Lecturer in Design, The Open university Keeping students engaged and motivated is crucial at a distance – especially to avoid last-minute panics with assignments and projects. Research shows that distance students more than any other group are particularly sensitive to external factors and life events. But it also reveals that regular,Continue reading “Recipe: Motivating students working remotely”