This programme stems from two big human ideas ? designing and learning ? and explores their connection. Whilst we can all re-order and improve our words, can we learn to be better designers? Whilst learning is a natural consequence of human growth, can we learn more effectively through the real-world engagement that designing provides? We consider how learning might reinvigorate designing and how designing might reinvigorate learning. The programme establishes a critical-creative setting in which you can challenge existing practice and explore ways to develop your own. What you study You complete three core modules on Researching Design Learning, Designing and Learning, and an Independent Research Project, as well as option units from a range including Design Ideation, Located Learning, and International and Cultural Perspectives. The core and option units allow you to develop understandings and expertise that you can draw together and utilise in your final project. This project will enable you to engage in significant research, in a context of your own choosing, that will inform understandings of designing and learning. The project can be undertaken as either practice-based research supported by theory, or theory-based research supported by practice. Core courses: ?Designing and Learning In this module you will explore the nature, similarity and interconnectedness of these two big human ideas: designing is a creative process through which we continually reconfigure the world, while learning is a creative process through which we continually reconfigure our view of the world. The purpose of this module is to explore the ways in which these two cognitiveconcrete processes can be conceptualised and enriched. Specifically, we will explore the ways in which designing can inform learning processes, and learning can inform designing processes. Both designing and learning processes are shaped by philosophical and cultural traditions that seek to define the ?good? and what might be meant by ?better? and ?improvement? both in terms of practice and outcome. In this module, you will examine your own philosophies, traditions and practices, both as designers and learners. Through critical and creative practice you will also evolve new approaches, and new perceptions. ?Researching Design Learning This course is a fundamental component of the programme and will be introduced at the start of the year, in parallel with the core unit on Designing and Learning. Researching Design Learning will provide the methodological backbone to the programme, providing you with the understanding and the tools to embark successfully on your own major research project and dissertation. The course explores research methodology approaches and issues presented through a series of research case studies. These will include case studies presented by course tutors and those researched and presented by the students themselves. Case studies will be chosen to represent a comprehensive list of complementary, contrasting and conflicting research approaches in order that issues can be explained, explored and discussed in depth. Through each case study you will build a broad and deep understanding of research design learning in relation to research paradigm research purposes research clients research design data types, collection, analysis and presentation research ethics and reporting research. You will also explore the complementary concepts of research-as-design and design-as-research. ?Independent Research Project The Independent Research Project is the final project for the programme and provides you with the opportunity to undertake an empirical research project in the field of design learning, resulting in either a 20,000-word dissertation, or a new design learning product (e.g. curriculum, hardware, software) supported by a 5,000-word report. The research project allows you to draw together work undertaken as part of the core and option courses to form a rese
This programme stems from two big human ideas ? designing and learning ? and explores their connection. Whilst we can all re-order and improve our words, can we learn to be better designers? Whilst learning is a natural consequence of human growth, can we learn more effectively through the real-world engagement that designing provides? We consider how learning might reinvigorate designing and how designing might reinvigorate learning. The programme establishes a critical-creative setting i...
