The student as software developer: Engaging interior design students in shaping their educational experiences

Abstract

<p>The purpose of this paper is to present an application of a constructivist learning strategy for interior design students. In an upper level undergraduate seminar course, Technology and Design Thinking, students were asked to develop a digital learning tool that would assist them in the design studio. Entrepreneurial in nature, this class challenged students to think about an instructional technology tool/tutor/tutee application that they would want to use in the studio. What is lacking in the existing studio environment that might be also useful to their fellow classmates? Is there a niche that they might be able to fill that could help many people in their design thinking? This course required design students to integrate readings and discussions from educational psychology, instructional technology, and interior design education. Central to this project was a seminal work by Taylor (1980), which positioned the learner and computer relationship into one of three main categories—computer as tool, tutor, or tutee.</p>