Prototyping and iteration aren't new ideas. But when deadlines are tight, and you're on the hook to deliver a cool new technology or user experience, what do you do? Over and over, I see people spending too much time making polishing, and too little time exploring.

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The LDT MA project trap
Mike Griffin 20100211

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Or, how I learned to stop polishing and start iterating
The LDT MA project trap
Mike Griffin 20100211

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Learning
Design
Technology

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Let’s make something amazing.
Learning
Design
Technology

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Let’s make something that makes change.
Learning
Design
Technology

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Learning
Design Strong visual design, coherent system
Technology

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Design Strong visual design, coherent system
Technology

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Learning Realistic lesson plans, new research
Design Strong visual design, coherent system
Technology Feature-rich, robust applications

11. Let’s make something that makes change.

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Understand

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Understand something
about the world.
Understand

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Understand Intervene

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Introduce a ‘thing’ you’d
expect to make a difference.
Understand Intervene

16. !"#$%&'(#$)*#)'+)()%+#,'-(-%&&.'
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Understand Intervene Measure

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See if you’ve move
the needle.
Understand Intervene Measure

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5"6(#."67$%89"%#":#6(&'";5#
Understand Intervene Measure

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Field research
Learning research literature
Domain literature
Surveys
Understand Intervene Measure
New reports
Personal experience

20. !"#$%"&%'()$%#"%*+#,-.,+,%
Curriculum plans
Flash prototype
Web sites
Complete applications
Understand Intervene Measure
Paper prototypes
Hardware

21. Focus groups
!"#$%"&%'()$%#"%*+($,-+%
User study
Learner study
Usability lab
Understand Intervene Measure
Heuristics
Field trial

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Understand Intervene Measure

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Value for learners
Strategic goals
Understand Intervene Measure

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3(+*",".#5*263(-7#
Value for learners
Strategic goals
Understand Intervene Measure
Demonstrating skills for degree and career

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{ the trap }

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Understanding

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Background research
Discussions with advisors
Understanding

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An idea

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Intervening

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Intervening

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Intervening

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Intervening

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Visual design
Coding
Curriculum design
Division of labor
Intervening

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Measuring

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User study at the end
Measuring

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Another idea

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Ideas for further research
Lessons learned
Changes that would improve the original idea

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Is this a good idea?
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Is it better than other ideas?
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A process for hunting value…
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{ avoiding the trap }

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Understanding

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Background research
Discussions with advisors
Understanding

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An idea

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An (incorrect) idea

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Hypothesis
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An (incorrect) idea

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Hypothesis
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An (incorrect) idea

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Hypothesis
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Intervening

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Hypothesis
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Quick and dirty
Easy to make
Intervening

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Hypothesis
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Paper prototypes
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Quick and dirty
Easy to make
Intervening

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Hypothesis
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Paper prototypes
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Quick and dirty
Easy to make
Intervening

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Hypothesis
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Paper prototypes
Measuring

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Hypothesis
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Paper prototypes
Quick and dirty
Out in the real world
What’s weak?
Measuring

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Hypothesis
2*(3"/,#%&
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing
Quick and dirty
Out in the real world
What’s weak?
Measuring

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Hypothesis
2*(3"/,#%&
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing
Quick and dirty
Out in the real world
What’s weak?
Measuring

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Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing (%(,#&

62. !"#$#%&'()"*&+,-.&,-*/($0#1&20&,-&
Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing (%(,#&
Pause and reflect

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Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing (%(,#&
Do it again

64. !"#$#%&'()"*&+,-.&,-*/($0#1&20&,-&
Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing (%(,#&
Iteration

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Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing (%(,#&
Iteration

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Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing (%(,#&
Iteration

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Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing (%(,#&
Iteration

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Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing (%(,#&
Iteration

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Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing (%(,#&
Iteration

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Hypothesis
?
Paper prototypes ?
Rapid testing
Iteration ?
Stronger claims
?

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Hypothesis
Paper prototypes
Rapid testing
Iteration
Much stronger story

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Value
Strategic goals
Understand Intervene Measure

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Value
Strategic goals
Understand Intervene Measure

74. !"#$%#%&'#'()#"*#%&'#)$+,#+"-#.$(#
)'/"(0%1$%'#%&$%#+"-#.$(#&'23#
Demonstrating skills for degree and career
"14$(56$7"(0#8()#9$2-'#
Value
Strategic goals
Understand Intervene Measure

75. Special thanks to Jay Dautcher and Ron Conescu for their helpful comments!