Dissolving learning boundaries

In this paper we present our approach to dissolving the learning boundaries that make it hard for IT students to adopt learn about user-focussed design and development. Traditional approaches to IT teaching minimise collaboration and reuse, favouring inflexible, sequential, heavyweight development methods that view user value as having secondary importance at best. In contrast, we use a studio-based approach with a focus on learning outcomes. This is enhanced with a realistic project scenario, team teaching, learning and space, favouring a flexible, nimble, iterative, user-focussed development method. Our students achieved significant results, were strongly engaged by the course, and exhibited enjoyment, ownership and excitement while extending their core IT design and development skills. We believe that this approach to providing an IT learning environment has wide-ranging benefits for learners and teacher. We will expand this approach for future offerings of courses in the Bachelor of Information Environments program at the University of Queensland.