Hello knowledge seekers
I am new to this list and have been lurking on this fascinating issue for a
while. I am currently doing my PhD - in Educational Research at Lancaster
University - my focus of study is the practice of teaching the practice
based disciplines of art, design and communication. I believe that there is
some considerable resonance between some of the concepts I have seen
described and discussed here with some of the theories I have been
introduced to in relation to education.
You may be interested to read the work of Jean Lave and Etienne Wenger, the
latter has written an excellent book 'Communities of Practice' their central
paradigm is that knowledge of a practice (like design) is learnt from within
a community and is therefore situated knowledge (situated cognition). It is
as much about learning 'how to be' as well as learning 'how to do'.
I am also very interested in exploring notions of knowledge generated
through experiences of living in our world (the world of design), for this
reason I am using a phenomenographic methodology.
Using a phenomenographic approach, the learner (researcher), learns about a
certain phenomenon (how others experience the phenomenon), in a situation
(the research situation - teaching the practice of art, design and
communication), that is of her own moulding.
However - I'm sure you would like some refs for situated cognition. I find
it a convincing way to look at design knowledge, or the practice involving
design knowledge.
WENGER, E. (1998) Communities of Practice: Learning, meaning and identity.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
ERAUT, M. (1994) Developing Professional Knowledge and Competence. London:
Falmer.
S. CHAIKLIN & J. LAVE (Eds) Understanding Practice, pp. 3-32. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press.
MARTON, F. & BOOTH, S. (1997). Learning and awareness. Mahwah, N. J.:
Lawrence Erlbaum.
(this last ref good for phenomenography)
I hope this adds to some useful food for thought rather than confusion!
Linda
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Linda Drew
Subject Centre Manager
Learning and Teaching Support Network
Art, Design and Communication
University of Brighton
68 Grand Parade
Brighton
Sussex BN2 2JY
Tel/fax: 01273 643119
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