I just attended an AERA division conference for Design-Based Research this week organized by TJ Kopcha from the University of Georgia. We each were slated to present our vexations and ventures associated with a particular project that we though aligned or existed within Design-Based Research.
My project initially focused on the case-based learning activities that we implement in my W200 courses. My proposal can be found here. I started out focusing on using DBR to improve case-based learning theory. After a great discussion, the group led me to my real focus which was subject-culture theory. In other words, different subject areas (and grade levels) use and value technology differently. Based on some of my initial findings, I've found that teachers tend to be more willing to use technology if you show them specific applications; they seem better able to visualize how things work and how to make it work in their classroom (or how to tweak it to make it fit within their existing practices). This seems critical to their adoption of technology, and an area I plan to investigate during my sabbatical (I'm getting excited about this project idea and where it can take my scholarship).
My next step is to investigate the various DBR methods that can be used to study the various designs through iterations of the class. After establishing a stronger, clearer method, with my research team, I plan on investigating this topic more thoroughly. The key is to continue to examine how the theories of subject-culture and adoption are impacted by these design decisions and how does it inform those theories.
