The Art of Learning Community: Technology and Gamification As A Recipe For Learning Umami

High-stakes testing, originally intended to motivate students, remains a heated topic. Yet, school reform efforts continue with the goal to create engaged learners that can think creatively beyond the standards. The dilemma is left for teachers to solve- how to reconcile a culture of standardized testing with learner engagement and motivation that is key to student success. When designing learning experiences that promote creativity via information and computer technology, teachers need to adopt an ecological approach that encompasses people, practices, values, and technology interacting- with the spotlight being on human activities. The Japanese word umami describes the elusive fifth taste of yumminess. Humans engage all senses to form judgments about their food, but taste is paramount. This provides an apt metaphor for instructional design. Consumers demand that their food be nourishing, presentable, and delicious- a feast for the senses. This is a worthy standard for any lesson- the goal of “learning umami.” The author proposes to create an analogous process in crafting an online learning community (http://edvislee.wix.com/rehearse-for-life).

The community consists of a mash-up of tools, apps, content, gamification, and collaboration with artists as “flavors” for engagement. Students are being encouraged to “rehearse for life.” The presentation will review the community’s features before and after modifications, discuss design implications and rationale for changes, and make recommendations for additional improvements. The results demonstrate how pedagogy, design, and evaluation can be used to tailor existing apps, tools, services, and content to create a compelling learning community to meet any instructional design challenge.