Boise State University

Designing for Serendipty in Educational InnovationLisa Dawley, Dept. of Educational Technology

“I feel myself getting smarter.”

“To innovate is not to reform” Edmund Burke

1How we become innovators

2Importance

of serendipity

3Design for

serendipitous learning

How do we become educational innovators?1

Educational innovation Geoff Colvin

• Innovative breakthroughs require years of intensive preparation

• Enthusiastic immersion in a domain results in deep, rich knowledge

• New ideas spur on more new ideas, networks generate cycles of innovation

• Give freedom to innovate

How: Deliberate Practice & Opportunity

• A lifelong period of deliberate effort to improve performance in a specific domain Geoff Colvin

1. Know where you want to go, and identify next steps2. Practice directly, master what you don’t know3. Practice self-regulation before, during & after the work4. Deepen your knowledge with mental models

**Multiplier effect: improvement over time increases drive. Extrinsic motivators can be useful in early stages.

2 Importance of serendipity

making fortunate discoveries while looking for something unrelated

A trip to Finland??

Serendipity is a major component of scientific discoveries and inventions

Key component of business intelligence

• Penicillin• Silly putty• Mauve• Teflon• Scotchguard• Cellophane• Chocolate chip cookies• Christopher Columbus• Grounded theory (patterns)

How do we go off-course when curriculum is standardized, accountable, and tested?

3 4 Design Ideas for Serendipitous Learning and Innovation

Personal Learning Networks

Personal Learning Environment

Why PLNs?• Overcomes isolation of online teachers/learners• Supports serendipitous knowledge construction

through distributed nodes and networks• Empowers learners to become self-led,

independent knowledge seekers and creators• Allows customization of learning paths specific

to individual interests or needs• It’s fun and you can take it with you!

Organizing Information in the Network

Social Network Knowledge Construction

Construction & Creation Opportunities

• Blogging/tweeting • Social media creation

Construction & Creation Opportunities

• Simulations • 3D printing

• Virtual Worlds

Construction & Creation Opportunities

Growth Trend in virtual worlds: tweens and teens

Virtual World Popularity by Age• Poptropica 144M• Barbie Girls 22M• Buildabearville

21M• Jumpstart 4M

5-10

• Stardoll 94M• Neopets 65M• Club Penguin 63M• Whyville 7M

10-15

• Habbo 200M• IMVU 50M• WeeWorld 40M• Gaia 36M

15-25

• Second Life 25M• Utherverse 7.5M• eRepublic 2M

25-35

Virtual World Types by Age

HAND: movement(somato-

sensorymotor system)

HEART:relationships,

emotions, long-term memory

(limbic system) HEAD:Intellect, decision making, planning, impulse control(frontal cortical networks)

• Quest-Based Learning

Learner Choiceto Demonstrate Competencies

3dgamelab.org

To sum it up

• Excellence and innovation come through deliberate practice

• Serendipity is a necessary aspect of innovation

• Opportunities for serendipity can be designed into learning environments and curriculum– PLNs, content creation, play, learner

choice