| Edited by Dr. David J. Ayersman, Mary Washington
College, and Dr. W. Michael Reed, New York University |
formerly Journal of Research on Computing in Education
JRTE, Volume 32, Number 2, Winter
1999
From Concept to Software:
Developing
a Framework for Understanding the Process of Software Design
Punyashloke Mishra, Yong Zhao, and Sophia
Tan
Michigan State University
Abstract
To understand technological innovation (be it the design of a mouse
trap or
a piece of computer software), it is crucial to understand the process
of design.
Design is not simply a one-to-one mapping of scientific knowledge or
theoretical
frameworks onto a problem. Design is a complex and multifaceted
process requiring
the understanding and implementation of a range of skills and
knowledge domains.
The design of software in particular entails a lot more than just
representing
in a computer program the original concepts or learning theory that
motivated
it. This article offers a framework for understanding the complex
processes
of design by examining the design process of two computer programs:
FLiPS and
Tiger. FLiPS is a multimedia program for learning complex concepts in
chemistry,
while Tiger is an automated manuscript submission and review system.
We examine
the process of design by identifying and highlighting some significant
common
themes that underlie the design processes of these two different
computer programs.
We believe that this framework has much to offer the theory and
practice of
educational software design.
Contributors
Punyashloke Mishra is an assistant professor of
technology
for teaching and learning at Michigan State
University.
His research has focused on the theoretical,
cognitive,
and social aspects related to the design and use
of computer-based
learning environments, the cognitive psychology of
science,
and visual literacy.
Yong Zhao is an assistant professor of
educational psychology
at Michigan State University with interests in
Internet-based
learning environments, technology evolution and
adoption,
language acquisition and literacy, and perceptual
control
theory. His research activities focus on the
social, cultural,
and psychological interactions between technology
and education.
Sophia Tan is a doctoral student in educational
technology
at Michigan State University. She is interested in
teaching
and learning with technology and in multimedia
design.
Address: Dr. Punyashloke Mishra, 341 Erickson
Hall, Michigan
State University, East Lansing, MI 48824; punya@msu.edu.
Web Links
Banville, J. (1998). Beauty, charm, and
strangeness: Science
as metaphor. Science [Online
serial], 281(5373).
Available: www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/281/5373/40.
Mishra, P. (1998). FLiPS: Flexible learning in
the periodic
system [Computer software]. Urbana:
University of
Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Although this piece
of software
is not available publicly, you may request a copy
by e-mail
at punya@msu.edu.
Zhao, Y. (1997). Tiger [Computer
software]. East
Lansing: Michigan State University, Electronic
Proposal
Processing Center. Available: http://zhao.educ.msu.edu/tiger.aera.start.fcgi.
Note. The Web sites listed in
this page
were valid when this issue of JRCE
went to
press. We have no control over the site, though,
and the
Web is very volatile. Please let us know if you
find a broken
link, and we’ll do our best to update
it.
A PDF file of the full article is available.
Contact: jrte@iste.org.
Please specifiy Volume and Issue number and article name.
Copyright © 1999, ISTE (International Society for Technology
in Education).
All rights reserved.
| educational computing research and development, software design and development |
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