Research theme 4 - Design and assessment of tools and systems

The research studies carried out in this orientation question the design and assessment of tools and systems in the field of education, training, and work. Contextualised in varied professional universes (industry, school, university…), and based on different theoretical and methodological foundations (work and activity sciences, education and training sciences), these studies aim to help professionals with their professional development and the transformation of work situations.   

This goal leads to going beyond a vision that juxtaposes design and assessment as well as the classic distinction between designer and assessor. The studies precisely examine the reciprocal influences of the design and assessment processes particularly in the context of a “continuous design in use” approach.

Three categories of questioning structure the theme 4 research studies:

-  the issue of the links between design and assessment on the level both of the final purposes and on that for implementation. What tensions can be identified in and between the processes for designing the systems and for  assessing them? What interactions between design and assessment should be considered? 

- the issue of design and assessment as seen from the angle of the collaborations between researchers and professionals.  In what ways do these collaborations help develop the professionals’ activities? Under what conditions do the collaborations between researchers and professionals contribute to developing the design and assessment of the tools and systems? 

- the effects of how the design and assessment of the tools and systems interact with each other. How does such an interaction produce development effects noticeable on the level of the actors’ activities and of the systems? What effects are foreseen, really obtained and/or unexpected? How are these effects taken into account by the researchers and professionals?