Photo-stories from Durham: a case study on assessing design innovation

Bain, Jennifer. 2005. 'Photo-stories from Durham: a case study on assessing design innovation'. In: Inspire and Educate: DATA International Research Conference. UNDEFINED 2005. [Conference or Workshop Item]

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Abstract or Description

This 3000-word, peer-refereed international conference paper reports on research undertaken on behalf of DfES, of which the author was a research team member, to develop a system of assessment that would measure and reward design innovation. The paper traces the emergence of a unique 'photo' storyline assessment methodology and examines its impact on learners and assessors. As part of a wider research study (see R. Kimbell, S. Miller, J. Bain, R. Wright, T. Wheeler and K. Stables, 2004 entry) this single case study (sample size 30) focuses on classroom activity in a Durham secondary school. As part of a broader analysis of qualitative classroom data, photographs taken to supplement classroom observations of one group of learners were revealed as a photographic record of progression not evident for other learners. This unexpected finding led to further analysis of the photographs and learner responses to them, recorded as part of classroom observations and through learner questionnaires. These revealed the motivational benefits of the photographic record in maintaining impetus behind design development. When coding data, emerging themes included a growing sense of learner confidence and progress and evidence of the photos supporting critical moments at which learners see development of their design as simultaneously reflective and progressive. The main finding of this case study was that, when used as part of design activity structured to support innovation, the photo storyline methodology provides learners with opportunities to reflect and construct real-time narratives about their design. This assessment methodology has had a major impact on the national GCSE examination system (see output 1). The approach has also generated considerable interest with international audiences.

Item Type:

Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)

Additional Information:

isbn: 1898788758

Keywords:

design education; photo-story

Departments, Centres and Research Units:

Design

Dates:

DateEvent
1 June 2005Published

Date range:

2005

Item ID:

121

Date Deposited:

28 Apr 2008 16:49

Last Modified:

02 Jan 2019 16:09

URI:

https://research.gold.ac.uk/id/eprint/121

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