Title: Constructionist assessment with mobile software-based paper prototyping

Authors: Dean Mohamedally, Panayiotis Zaphiris

Addresses: Centre for HCI Design, City University London, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB, London, UK. ' Centre for HCI Design, City University London, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB, London, UK

Abstract: Low-fidelity prototyping is a Knowledge Elicitation technique in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). However, empirical methods for low-fidelity prototyping have remained relatively static in development. We describe artefact-driven dynamic constructionism, allowing us to view the temporal evolution of design artefacts as measurable constructs within low-fidelity prototypes. Two mobile software tools are described, PROTEUS and PROTEUS EVALUATOR, using Social Constructionism. HCI class prototyping exercises with the tools are reported with 40 HCI Postgraduate students. Artefact-driven constructionist metrics are thus applied to low-fidelity prototyping pedagogy. Advantages and disadvantages of using such methods are demonstrated and explained.

Keywords: paper prototyping; mobile knowledge elicitation; mobile learning; m-learning; HCI; human-computer interaction; low-fidelity prototyping; design artefacts; mobile software; social constructionism; higher education.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMLO.2008.020318

International Journal of Mobile Learning and Organisation, 2008 Vol.2 No.3, pp.250 - 270

Published online: 15 Sep 2008 *

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