Abstract

Large, Nesset, Behesht , & Bowler
Figure 8. Buttons in grade-three student design, KidSearch Canada team (Copyright
© 2006 by McGill University. Used with permission)
such as the selection of a name for the team or choosing the color of the team’s tshirt—decisions
that, in fact, had nothing to do per se with the portals’ design, but
which were taken very seriously by the child team members. Of course, for these
seemingly small decisions, no criteria had been established by techniques such as a
user needs assessment or agenda development. Opinions on screen layout and color
were more varied, but again consensus was reached, probably helped by the decision
to incorporate personalization into the portal that would allow users to select,
for example, different color combinations (although in the operational portals this
particular personalization option was not included).
Consensus building was more challenging with the younger students in the Kid-
Search Canada team than with their older counterparts in the History Trek team.
The grade-three students demonstrated a strong sense of ownership over their own
individual ideas, and wanted to see them realized in the finished portal. They would
be satisfied, however, so long as some aspect of their own design concepts had been
incorporated into the emerging group design. For example, one student complained
that his drawing had not been utilized in the team portal, but was totally reassured
when it was pointed out that two buttons (Back and Forward) present in one of his
drawings (on the right-hand side of Figure 8) were to be incorporated into the portal
low-tech prototype.
The. Low-Tech.Prototype
The final step in the bonded design process is the development of a low-tech prototype.
By this term is meant a design that is completed but nonoperational. For
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