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Edit RSurles-hw5- here.

1.1 Design is a very complex process. Reflecting back on Simon's definition of design, "Everyone designs who devise courses of action aimed at changing existing situations into preferred ones." The idea of creating an environment that will faciliate the design process (any design prcess) is intuitively exciting and very appealing. However, the basic idea of a critic can, by nature, negative. It is important to recognize that this particular paradigm nutures constructive criticism that leads to constructive knowledge and that in turn leads to a better solution or resolution to the design problem at hand. The critiquing mechanisms of generic, specific, and interpretive act as major enablers to produce acceptable outcomes in the design prcess. I was particularly interested in the HYDRA critiquing process and how it allows 'soft' intervention in corrections. In essence this is a very novel decision making process. It frames the problem iteratively, as necessary for understanding, it allows active feed back (back talk) and affords the structure change to solve the design problem.

1.2 I found the article very interesting and novel. There are several aspects of it that I am sure I will try to implement in some of the design problems my company is currently dealing with. I did not find anything about the article that was uninteresting.

2 Understanding the problem at hand may not be as easy as it appears. Viewing the problem from different perspectives is very important for actually solving the design problem. A critiquing process is necessary for understanding the problem, identifing the resources for solving the problem, activly engaging a process of reflection on the problem and controlling the solution is a very positive approach to handling complex issues.

3. I would like to explore the HYDRA critiquing model for learning environments or learning landscapes for children.

4. Not specifically, however a book I am currently reading, "The Theoritical Foundations of Learning Environments" touches on several of the concepts discussed in this paper. There may be some interesting areas for research between the two.

As for critiquing: there are several models being offered to assists in handling complex types of issues in strategic management, design of the built environment, and again learning environments.

5. I believe the article says many things about design, learning, collaboration and innovative media. First of all, it is important to understand that today design, learning, collaboration and interaction of supporting media are really inseparable. It seems that you cannot engage one without the others. We are fettered by technology, as well as, freed by it. Desgin is a form of intervention and by intervening in 'what is' to change it to 'what ought to be' becomes a learning and collaborative process. How we use media and what media we use to mediate the process becomes more and more important in resolving the problem at hand. Learning on demand and reflection in action are two very important concepts in constructing knowledge. Knowing is what we are really after. Being able to understand the problem will enable us to garner the right information in a timely manner for the decision maker to make the right decision with the resources at hand.

6. I would like to see this applied to designing the best learning environment. What is the best learning environment? It is a learning environment that is conducive to all learning styles.

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