CONTEXTUALMETHODS
Curriculum Design
The course model is designed for undergraduate students who need to learn fundamentals of contextual research methods and ethnographic fieldwork. Our course offers learning model that is applied-centric not theoretical centric, with more emphasis on developing capacities for collaboration that enhances the learning networks and exchange of knowledge between students and instructors.
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The learning tasks of this course will be accomplished through a series of in-class and out-of-class activities including classroom blogging, as an innovative method for documenting student’s knowledge and interactions that occurs during the learning process. Unlike other teaching styles, our approach makes learning meaningful and visible to students and to others as well. And finally, it offers easy-access to information and documentation of the total learning experience over the course of the term.

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Our goal is to be the facilitator that creates the conditions for students by offering educational experience that promotes learning through discovery, reflection, and collaboration. Leveraging collective insights derived from sharing and collaboration, the class will bring fresh ideas and new energy to teaching research methods and their applications for design practice. By facilitating this course, we plan to focus on three main learning objectives:
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Knowledge: To encourage the understanding of the different tools and methods used in design research and contextual inquiry models;
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Skills: To develop the student’s ability to write a research proposal and to carry out a fundamental field ethnographic research;
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Attitude: To inspire the culture of collaborative learning, design thinking, and human-centered approach.
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We consider the big picture when it comes to students learning and we use different strategies to facilitate collaborative learning style. Our approach enables students to expand their understanding of contextual research methods and provide opportunity to experience the fundamentals of field ethnography.
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Our framework for course design serves as a reference point throughout the course. The basic elements of the framework incorporates teaching objectives, course strategy, tactics and finally course structure.

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