Collaborators

This collaborative research project was inspired by a well-developed teaching partnership between The Open University in the UK and Botho University in Botswana. The project team drew together a unique combination of expertise in Computing, Design, Psychology and Education.

The Principal Investigator, Professor Helen Sharp chaired the development of M(YT)364 Fundamentals of Interaction Design and is joint author of the Interaction Design textbook underpinning the module. Her research brings together the human and social aspects of Interaction Design and the development pedagogical patterns.

i

i

Co-Investigator Dr Mark Woodroffe is joint author of User interface design and evaluation and has over 15 years of teaching the subject both at a distance and face-to-face; he has a strong, ongoing relationship with the partner college in Botswana.

i

i

Co-Investigator Dr Nicole Lotz specialises in design research across cultures. She has a particular interest in how best educational practice in design can be identified and communicated using design patterns. She is involved in the presentation and production of teaching materials in Design at the Open University.

i

i

Co-Investigator Ananth Ram is Director of Education and Quality Assurance at Botho University, where he has established links with the Tertiary Education Council of Botswana.

i

i


Research Associate Richard Blyth has been tutoring M364 and working closely with Prof Sharp and Dr Woodroffe for 5 years. Until October 2007 Richard Blyth was Manager of BT Design Group, specialising in providing design, development and consultancy on user-centred design of BT’s products and services.

i

i

Research Associate Dino Rajah is the Dean of the Faculty of Business at Botho University, Botswana. He has a background that bridges computing, business and medical information management. Dino has also taught a number of modules in the Faculty of Computing such as Fundamentals of Interaction Design (MY364).

i

i

Research Associate Turugare Ranganai is a Computer Science Lecturer at Botho University, Botswana. He also worked for the Scientific and Industrial Research Centre as an Associate Scientist where he was developing systems for the Public Service in Zimbabwe. His interest in research is Human-Computer Interaction.