Here are some books that have informed and built the foundation for my research and design process. Here are but a few in a visual bibliography (spine edition). There are several different clusters of thinking embedded within this stack: Drupal (the design platform), web usability, design and programing, and literature providing context. Some times a [...]
Archive > July 2008
Situated Research and Design
Context is important as it has influenced my research. This context includes the physical environment, tools used, and location. When writing or programming intensely I revert to the 180 degree of desktop space seen in the picture above. The pull out trays are enlarged on the right and left to allow easy access to research [...]
Finding Projects
Finding projects on the site has been only accessible through a calendar interface. By exposing a view (recent projects created by buddies) there are now two options and a natural narrowing of projects as more are posted. Another small revision only shows people marked available for projects when looking for collaboration partners. The finding projects [...]
Tuning, Fine Tuning
The design research object, a website, is progressing quickly toward completion. The final development panel meeting has occurred. Several existing elements have been enhanced and tuned based on this feedback as well as the feedback from Josh McCormack, pro Drupal developer, and colleagues with ‘fresh eyes’ toward the site. The development process will slow down [...]
Avatars & About
Visual elements and knowledge about the site have been enhanced. The following items have been improved: Adding the selectable user selectable avatars Page Revisiong: Front Page & About Page Adding the selectable user selectable avatars The Avatar Selection module was added. This allows for greater flexibility for users selecting or uploading their own photo or [...]
I Need Your Help
My design research is focusing on cross classroom collaboration projects. So my question is this: What are the essential elements of a cross classroom collaboration project? Below you will see the fields that I have deemed to be important (the date range was cut off). What do you think? I welcome your comments. Bookmark on [...]
Tuning & Tweaking
The website is being tweaked and tuned. There are no plans for new features. Instead time is being spent investigating how to streamline the existing site and the user’s path to several different sections. There are several important improvements: Signup Module Adjusted One Step Login Me Alias Additional Help Text Signup Module Adjusted In the [...]
The Update!
The website that is the object of my design research affection is being developed. Soon (hopefully by the end of July) it will be public and able to be used by teachers. Currently only a selected ‘Development Panel’ have access are using the site to inform its development. This blog has lots of screen shots [...]
Functions, Filters, and Front Page
The development of the website continues. Issues addressed include adding visuals to user sorts, tools to narrow the number of results when sorted, and navigation links. These items are: Sorts – User pictures and user points added Sorts – Text at the top to explain the table Comforts Sort – Filtered by user points Logistics [...]
Administrative Revisions, Design, and Improvements
The Development panel provided several suggestions about features that should be added to the site. These included: remembering users when returning to site, emailing inactive users, search improvements, addition of buddies photos to the buddy list, project sign up streamlined. Remembering Returning Users Users are now given the ‘remember me’ check box as option when [...]
