Digital environment and interaction in design education

Abstract

Traditional education techniques are shifting and changing today because of national and international advances as well as digitization. With the Covid-19 evolution institutional application-based design education has also had to transition to the online environment. In this study while the effects and results of the online environment in design education were investigated the interaction between the interfaces of learning management systems (LMS) which are digital platforms and the student was examined. Under the interface- student interaction student-instructor student-student and student-content were investigated. The study aims to examine student interaction through the Sakai and Blackboard interfaces used in online education in two universities providing design education in Izmir. Among the user research methods focus group interviews and online surveys on behavioral attitudinal and qualitative axes were completed and qualitative content analysis of the data obtained was conducted. In this study the reasons why the platforms and interfaces used are not preferred in terms of interaction the role and importance of other communication tools used by the students were investigated. Students stated that their interaction through the LMS was low and it was observed that the level of interaction was less than in the physical environment. However when interaction with other tools and platforms used in online education is taken into consideration the level of interaction has increased to a higher level. This study which was conducted by taking the current thoughts and comments of the students is aimed to contribute to the development of future user-oriented digital designs and the existing online conditions in design education.