Challenging Technologies: The Virtual Show and Tell in Design Inspired Learning Processes

The design inspired learning (DIL) processes, and in particular the P³BL (problem-project-process based learning) processes, are usually very time consuming and because of their flexible and complex nature are rarely implemented as on-line processes, at least not as full processes. The P3BL is thus a learning domain in which the pedagogy is deeply challenging the technology. In this paper we present the implementation of a Virtual version of the Show&Tell (VS&T) method, that represents the first step toward the realization of a full co-design lab, at present under development as part of the open-source project Life (Learning in an Interactive Framework to Experience). The S&T is a well-known and very powerful collaborative method that can be profitably used to speed up the problem setting of a design process. Its porting from the reality to the virtuality allowed the technology to challenge back the pedagogy and to iteratively transform and improve the VS&T method. A case history will demonstrate the positive effect of the mutual challenge between pedagogy and technology, at least as P³BL is concerned.