Program of Inquiry

The IIS is an opportunity to learn about effective technology mediation of adult work in schools. Through our engineering work with a broad ensemble of prototype tools, we seek to develop a grounded theory of practice improvement. Our goal is to provide useful insights for practitioners about school improvement and to guide subsequent tool design and use efforts. The IIS program of inquiry is organized around alpha and beta phases of development activity and guided by the IIS Theory Activity Framework.

Alpha Phase
In the alpha phase, we typically engage in multiple cycles of co-design and redesign with school staff. The focus for our inquiry during this stage of work is to thoroughly document the rationale for the design of specific tools and social practices.

Beta Phase
The beta phase involves field trials for new IIS tools and social practices that occur in a larger number of school sites spread over a wider geographic area. Our attention shifts toward concerns about use of IIS tools in diverse contexts, including the adaptations required. It also shifts toward building an evidence base for project efficacy.

IIS Activity Theory Framework
Our activity theory framework guides both our research and design activity. It provides us with a "problems of practice" perspective to focus our attention on the processes and outcomes related to each new tool and its related social practices. We seek to understand possible changes in school-based work activity and in individuals engaged in that activity. The framework also provides us with a school context perspective. Our organizational context studies include an analysis of the base state of the school organization; how the school's characteristics influence the design and 'take up" of new tools and social practices; and how our multiple innovations reshape fundamental features of the school's organization.