Technology Enhanced Learning Environments For Literacy And...

This was a design-based research study that examined the use of technology-enhanced learning environments in support of literacy and global awareness among youth in an out-of-school context. This research seeks to be descriptive, rather than explanatory, in hopes to contribute to the larger picture of the ways in which youth are engaging in technology-enhanced learning environments. It also aims to offer insight into ways in which learning environments, in classrooms or community centers, can be designed to allow for an expanded understanding of learning, literacy and globalization. In this chapter, I provide and overview and rationale for design-based research, the research setting and participants, data collection and data analysis.†¦show more content†¦Wang Hannifin (2005) identify five important characteristics of design-based research. It needs to be: pragmatic, grounded, interactive, iterative and flexible, integrative and contextual. The research study conducted was pragmatic in the sense that it was embedded in and strongly informed by practice. It was grounded in theory, relevant research, and was conducted in a real-world setting. The project was interactive, iterative, and flexible. This is evident by my involved role as researcher, designer and facilitator, as well as the process by which I continually examined the project and made changes accordingly. The use of data collection from multiple sources and a combination of methods characterized the research as integrative, increasing its credibility and objectivity. Lastly, the research was contextual because the results and findings were based on both the design process and the context of the study. (short conclusion paragraph explaining dbr alignment with this study?) Research Setting I conducted the research project at Washington Park International Center for Education and the Arts, located in an urban Midwestern city. The community center, informally known as Washington Park, is a part of a larger foundation, Washington Park Foundation, whose mission is to provide housing, human services, arts appreciation and cultural awareness (organization’s website). The center is nestled in the center of a large housing complex, whose residents are