Comments on: The Aesthetics of the Virtual Learning Space http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Things to consider when creating your ow… « Blog http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/comment-page-1/#comment-43912 Things to consider when creating your ow… « Blog Thu, 10 Jun 2010 08:03:56 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/#comment-43912 [...] to consider when creating your own workspace for students, design does matter http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/ [...] [...] to consider when creating your own workspace for students, design does matter http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/ [...]

]]> By: Hacking the Academy: Four Lines of Attack on the LMS http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/comment-page-1/#comment-43893 Hacking the Academy: Four Lines of Attack on the LMS Sat, 05 Jun 2010 21:01:30 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/#comment-43893 [...] Waltzer takes a third tack in The Aesthetics of the Virtual Learning Space, critiquing the aesthetics of the LMS course site, and defending the urgency of aesthetics to ed [...] [...] Waltzer takes a third tack in The Aesthetics of the Virtual Learning Space, critiquing the aesthetics of the LMS course site, and defending the urgency of aesthetics to ed [...]

]]> By: Bloviate - Guerrillas in the Midst http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/comment-page-1/#comment-43616 Bloviate - Guerrillas in the Midst Fri, 28 May 2010 18:27:53 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/#comment-43616 [...] Some courses are using Blogs@Baruch as little more than an open CMS, taking advantage of a flexible aesthetic to create a more intimate relationship between students and their engagement with course materials [...] [...] Some courses are using Blogs@Baruch as little more than an open CMS, taking advantage of a flexible aesthetic to create a more intimate relationship between students and their engagement with course materials [...]

]]> By: Gerald http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/comment-page-1/#comment-3445 Gerald Mon, 20 Nov 2006 01:13:54 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/#comment-3445 I am really interested in this discussion, primarily because it validates what I have been discovering with my course blogs. I teach 7th and 8th grade science and have been using blogs with my students for about 6 weeks. The pedagogical part was straightforward to me: promoting literacy in the content area; collaboration as a learning/scientific tool; and developing competency in technologies that are likely to be important to the students. They were concerned with usability and with the aesthetics of the blog (I used an edublogs.org blog and spent a good deal of time selecting the template). I wanted them to experience the "wow" factor and to feel like they were doing something cool. Looking forward, I am looking forward to developing more customization as well. I am really interested in this discussion, primarily because it validates what I have been discovering with my course blogs.

I teach 7th and 8th grade science and have been using blogs with my students for about 6 weeks. The pedagogical part was straightforward to me: promoting literacy in the content area; collaboration as a learning/scientific tool; and developing competency in technologies that are likely to be important to the students.

They were concerned with usability and with the aesthetics of the blog (I used an edublogs.org blog and spent a good deal of time selecting the template). I wanted them to experience the “wow” factor and to feel like they were doing something cool.

Looking forward, I am looking forward to developing more customization as well.

]]> By: Matt http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/comment-page-1/#comment-3023 Matt Fri, 03 Nov 2006 17:05:13 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/#comment-3023 Wonderful post, Luke. I think you're exactly right about the impact that the aesthetics of virtual space can have on learning. The "wow" factor cannot be ignored. The fact that those of us looking to move beyond Blackboard feel as though we have to find ways to defend some of the most basic tenets of web design is a sign of how far academia has to go on this issue. The practical hurdle that those of us who want to move beyond Blackboard face is the institutional investment that our universities have made to this learning system. In my own teaching, I'm trying to work both within and outside of Blackboard in a way that allows me to have the best of both worlds. Lots to think about here -- great post. Wonderful post, Luke. I think you’re exactly right about the impact that the aesthetics of virtual space can have on learning. The “wow” factor cannot be ignored. The fact that those of us looking to move beyond Blackboard feel as though we have to find ways to defend some of the most basic tenets of web design is a sign of how far academia has to go on this issue.

The practical hurdle that those of us who want to move beyond Blackboard face is the institutional investment that our universities have made to this learning system. In my own teaching, I’m trying to work both within and outside of Blackboard in a way that allows me to have the best of both worlds.

Lots to think about here — great post.

]]> By: Jim http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/comment-page-1/#comment-3019 Jim Fri, 03 Nov 2006 14:52:15 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/#comment-3019 Kate and Luke, You all are on to something really important. Learning spaces are by no means secondary or frivolous to the learning experience, they shape and define it just as much as the city you live in or the apartment you inhabit does (as you point out perfectly, Kate). I would argue that designing an inviting, interactive, and dynamic virtual learning space must be as integral as fashioning one's syllabus in preparation for the semester, if you are maaking a foray into hybrid/blended/online learning(or whatever it is know as these days). Creating a space for people to discuss, interact, and share is in many ways the goal of the classroom, whether online or face-to-face. A drab interface with a cookie-cutter mentality, a la BlackBoard, goes a long way towards undermining the best laid plans of mice and men. Check out this site as an excellent example of a hospitable, inviting and beautifully designed (if I must say so myself) virtual learning space. <a href="http://poetic-sequence.elsweb.org" rel="nofollow">Link</a>. The hits just keep on coming at cac.ophony.org. And hey, why not wage war on the corporate logic of elearning we have been forcee-fed over the last 10 years? If colleges and universities are not tasked to rethink, redesign and reaaappropriate the spaces in which they teach from corproate leviathans, than why the hell did I get into this business in the first place? Great stuff!!! Kate and Luke,

You all are on to something really important. Learning spaces are by no means secondary or frivolous to the learning experience, they shape and define it just as much as the city you live in or the apartment you inhabit does (as you point out perfectly, Kate). I would argue that designing an inviting, interactive, and dynamic virtual learning space must be as integral as fashioning one’s syllabus in preparation for the semester, if you are maaking a foray into hybrid/blended/online learning(or whatever it is know as these days).

Creating a space for people to discuss, interact, and share is in many ways the goal of the classroom, whether online or face-to-face. A drab interface with a cookie-cutter mentality, a la BlackBoard, goes a long way towards undermining the best laid plans of mice and men. Check out this site as an excellent example of a hospitable, inviting and beautifully designed (if I must say so myself) virtual learning space. Link.

The hits just keep on coming at cac.ophony.org. And hey, why not wage war on the corporate logic of elearning we have been forcee-fed over the last 10 years? If colleges and universities are not tasked to rethink, redesign and reaaappropriate the spaces in which they teach from corproate leviathans, than why the hell did I get into this business in the first place?

Great stuff!!!

]]> By: Kate Moss http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/comment-page-1/#comment-2991 Kate Moss Thu, 02 Nov 2006 18:02:18 +0000 http://cac.ophony.org/2006/11/02/the-aesthetics-of-the-virtual-learning-space/#comment-2991 Hi Luke, I think there are two related issues here: tweaking the functional design of the blog, and tweaking the aesthetic design (and of course, these overlap). The ability to tweak the functional side of the design matters more to me, as it makes more of a difference to what happens. For example, removing buttons you don't need, adding buttons that you do, in the order in which you need them--all of this design tweaking that the blog, taken together, can make a substantial difference to the user's experience. Sometimes I think we get so used to things being given to us as is, and if they require lots of work to alter (or are impossible to alter), we just put up with it. Blackboard is like that, for me. Sure, it's functional, and can enhance a course, no question. But using a carefully-designed blog with all the tweaks you want or need is like living in a carefully-designed home. (It's a lot easier to make those little tweaks in your virtual space, thankfully!) Added to those design tweaks that enhance functionality, aesthetics can make a blog feel inviting. This sense that you want to stick around a while may be subconscious, but it is not to be discounted. Hi Luke,

I think there are two related issues here: tweaking the functional design of the blog, and tweaking the aesthetic design (and of course, these overlap).

The ability to tweak the functional side of the design matters more to me, as it makes more of a difference to what happens. For example, removing buttons you don’t need, adding buttons that you do, in the order in which you need them–all of this design tweaking that the blog, taken together, can make a substantial difference to the user’s experience.

Sometimes I think we get so used to things being given to us as is, and if they require lots of work to alter (or are impossible to alter), we just put up with it. Blackboard is like that, for me. Sure, it’s functional, and can enhance a course, no question.

But using a carefully-designed blog with all the tweaks you want or need is like living in a carefully-designed home. (It’s a lot easier to make those little tweaks in your virtual space, thankfully!)

Added to those design tweaks that enhance functionality, aesthetics can make a blog feel inviting. This sense that you want to stick around a while may be subconscious, but it is not to be discounted.

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