A Pattern Language for action-inquiry, work-focused learning
I started this Pattern Language project last February with Ian Tindal and Richard Millwood and have been making intermittent progress since then. It is based upon the Ultraversity project and aims to capture the key elements of the approach developed for a degree programme based on action research methodology supported entirely through online communities of inquiry.
An enthusiast when I started, I am now more circumspect about the approach has anything fundamental to offer other than as a presentation framework.
Comment by Tom Smith
I can see why you’re finding it difficult and/or uninspiring. Can I make some suggestions?
a. You seem to have started with to many “big picture” patterns… As if you have an agenda rather than tips to share (I don’t mean that in a bad way). I’d recommend you throw in some smaller concepts (say tips that specifically help with “Team Teaching”… and see if they start to evolve the bigger picture for you…
b. Try using a Wiki (with WikiWords) instead of a blog. Because related patterns aren’t automatically linked, it becomes a bit of a pain to navigat/author the content.
c. Every pattern shouldn’t be related to every other pattern.
d. Produce a lot more patterns, maybe using the “Barnstorming” pattern from here, http://www.wikipatterns.com/display/wikipatterns/Wikipatterns
e. Provide more links as references.
f. Put the “introduction” in the sidebar
g. I found using VoodooPad (on my own) was more productive at the beginning of a project rather than an online tool, like a blog or wiki because it’s a much quicker editing process.
h. Catchier titles always help
Comment by Tom Smith
Ooh look at this…
http://piggydb.devjavu.com/
Comment by Stephen Powell
Hi Tom, you are right we had an agenda to describe Ultrvaversity and going through the process has enabled us to do this which was worthwhile I think. And yes, lots and lots of small ‘tips’ could readily hand off these patterns. The blog software was a pragmatic choice, you mentioned before a wiki but I had nothing to hand, the apps you suggest look like they might be of use.
I thought they were “catchy titles” :^)
Ta, Stephen.