Design Influence 1 - Communities of Practice = Community of Learning
Theory: "We assume that members have different interests, make diverse contributions to activity, and hold varied viewpoints. In our view, participation at multiple levels is entailed in membership in a community of practice. Nor does the term community imply necessarily co-presence, a well-defined identifiable group, or socially visible boundaries. It does imply participation in an activity system about which participants share understandings concerning what they are doing and what that means in their lives and for their communities," (Lave and Wanger, p. 98)
Application: In our design, we want to make sure to tap into a community of practice to strengthen learning. We hope to take advantage of the diversity of learners within the community and provide them with an opportunity/platform to share and learn with and from each other. The nature of learning within the coummunity beyond the natural confines of "work" in the busy city life of Songdo will have to take advantage of asynchronous discourse and will have to be interesting and valuable enough such that people in the city will want to participate in the learning opportunity. In our design, we need to be sure to remember this point. Individuals within the city and the experiences they bring with them are a critical untapped resource that we want to unlock.
Design Influence 2 - Technology in Learning
Theory: "The transparency of any technology always exists with respect to some purpose and is intricately tied to the cultural practice and social organization within which the technology is meant to function," (Lave and Wanger, p. 102).
Application: We have to understand how technology is embedded into Songdo's society in order to leverage its maximum potential. First, technological use in that city needs to be assessed. How do people access the internet? Through what mediums is the internet accessed (ie. cell phones, laptops, etc)? What kinds of technologies exist and are accessible in the city? How reliable is that technology? What are the norms for technological use in the city? What is the target age group and the desired use of technology for that group? By answering some of these questions, we can then find ways to incorporate technology into our design - and what a design it will be!