Using a thesis project board: Difference between revisions
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== Introduction == | == Introduction == | ||
Thesis project boards are [[physical visualization]] | Thesis project boards are [[physical visualization]] tools that help folks with both planning and monitoring a Master or PHD thesis. They also are social tools: Being on display in an office or a living room, a project board will show others "where your are". | ||
Project boards can be created with any sort of materials, e.g. a whiteboard or wall plus PostIts. In this article we will focus on boards made with Legos | Project boards can be created with any sort of materials, e.g. a whiteboard or wall plus PostIts. In this article we will focus on boards made with Legos and that is described in the '''''[[Lego-compatible thesis project board]]''''' article | ||
This experience has been conducted in 2012/2013 and may be renewed in the future. Currently, the purpose of this wiki page was twofold: | |||
* Track the evolution of pilot user's appropriation of the concept | * Track the evolution of pilot user's appropriation of the concept | ||
* Write down ideas, etc. | * Write down ideas, etc. | ||
The concept has been presented as [http://tecfa.unige.ch/tecfa/talks/schneide/eiah-2015/Schneider_EIAH2015-lego-final.pdf a poster] <ref>Schneider, Daniel, K. (2015). Visualisation de projets de thèse avec un dispositif physique et constructif. Actes de la conférence EIAH 2015, Agadir, Maroc. Preprint: http://tecfa.unige.ch/tecfa/talks/schneide/eiah-2015/Schneider_EIAH2015-lego-final.pdf </ref> at EIAH '2015 | |||
== User testing == | == User testing == | ||
In November 2012, we started involving PhD students in the project. | |||
=== User 1 === | === User 1 === | ||
| Line 17: | Line 23: | ||
User 1 went through several stages. Below we just summarize some elements: | User 1 went through several stages. Below we just summarize some elements: | ||
Stages (so far, nov | Stages (so far, nov 2012 to March 2013) | ||
# Used the project board | # Used the project board | ||
# Used a bigger standard Lego board in order to regroup, add extra handwritten bricks, add progress stairs. | # Used a bigger standard Lego board in order to regroup, add extra handwritten bricks, add progress stairs. | ||
# Use a still bigger standard Lego board in order to create connections, add "stories", etc. | # Use a still bigger standard Lego board in order to create connections, add "stories", etc. | ||
# Destroyed the structure | |||
# Designed visualization that focuses on a small set of essential current elements she is working on. | |||
We define stage as a major shift. Within each stage, there have been variations | We define stage as a major shift. Within each stage, there have been variations that are just documented with pictures. | ||
==== Stage 2 ==== | ==== Stage 2 ==== | ||
| Line 38: | Line 46: | ||
==== Stage 3 ==== | ==== Stage 3 ==== | ||
: nov 22 | : nov 22 2012 | ||
* Adds connectors (the arcs) visualizing how a task and an issue and 2 issues are connected | * Adds connectors (the arcs) visualizing how a task and an issue and 2 issues are connected | ||
* Uses extra bricks (e.g. a gate-in) | * Uses extra bricks (e.g. a gate-in) | ||
| Line 50: | Line 58: | ||
* This layout starts attracting other users for play. On 11/29 a colleague moved up the persona on the stairs. | * This layout starts attracting other users for play. On 11/29 a colleague moved up the persona on the stairs. | ||
==== Stage 4 ==== | ==== Stage 4 ==== | ||
| Line 60: | Line 67: | ||
[[File:Lego-board-user1-4-1.jpg|600px|thumbnail|none|In the cloud]] | [[File:Lego-board-user1-4-1.jpg|600px|thumbnail|none|In the cloud]] | ||
In addition, there is some focus on essential issues: | |||
[[File:Lego-board-user1-4-2.jpg|600px|thumbnail|none|In the cloud, focus on essentials]] | [[File:Lego-board-user1-4-2.jpg|600px|thumbnail|none|In the cloud, focus on essentials]] | ||
==== Stage 5 ==== | |||
February, 2013 | |||
[[File:Lego-board-user1-5-1.jpg|600px|thumbnail|none|Focus on two tasks]] | |||
=== User 2 === | === User 2 === | ||
| Line 91: | Line 104: | ||
==== Stage 3 ==== | ==== Stage 3 ==== | ||
( | On february 2013, the same type of layout was used. Changes: | ||
* A new visualisation of some kind of pilot using handles | |||
* A broken link (pink arc that doesn't connect) | |||
* Some progress meters going up | |||
[[image:user-2-phase-2- | [[image:user-2-phase-3-1.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Third layout showing some progress and new custom visualization]] | ||
[[image:user-2-phase-3-2.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Third layout showing some progress and new custom visualization]] | |||
=== User 3 === | === User 3 === | ||
User three (from a different institution) was only given standard Lego pieces: | User three (on a short visit, from a different institution) was shown the boards from use 1 and 2, liked the idea. Since we didn't print any special purpose bricks, he only given standard Lego pieces: | ||
* A medium-sized base plate | * A medium-sized base plate | ||
* 3x3 tiles | * 3x3 tiles | ||
| Line 104: | Line 122: | ||
* 2x2 tiles with a question mark | * 2x2 tiles with a question mark | ||
His PHD project includes the design of a collaborative "knowledge tool", i.e. some kind of applied computer science, the kind that can be done in an interdisciplinary research lab.... | |||
==== Phase 1 ==== | ==== Phase 1 ==== | ||
Feb 26 2013 | Feb 26 2013 (about one week later) | ||
[[image:user-3-phase-1-1.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Layout after a week including a printed artifact that represents a [http://www.knownodes.com/ core concept] of the system developed with the thesis]] | [[image:user-3-phase-1-1.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Layout after a week including a printed artifact that represents a [http://www.knownodes.com/ core concept] of the system developed with the thesis]] | ||
| Line 114: | Line 132: | ||
[[image:user-3-phase-1-2.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Layout after a week (top view)]] | [[image:user-3-phase-1-2.jpg|thumb|600px|none|Layout after a week (top view)]] | ||
== Bibliography == | |||
<references/> | |||
*Denio, Donna and Dieter Reuther (2016). Build to Lead, How Lego Bricks Can Make You a Better Leader, O'Reilly. Available online (free). http://www.oreilly.com/business/free/build-to-lead.csp | |||
* Schneider, Daniel, K. (2015). Visualisation de projets de thèse avec un dispositif physique et constructif. Actes de la conférence EIAH 2015, Agadir, Maroc. | |||
** [http://tecfa.unige.ch/tecfa/talks/schneide/eiah-2015/Schneider_EIAH2015-lego-final.pdf EIAH 2015 Poster paper (fr)] | |||
** [http://tecfa.unige.ch/tecfa/talks/schneide/eiah-2015/poster-lego-eiah2015-schneider.pdf EIAH 2015 Poster (fr)] | |||
[[category:3D printing]] | [[category:3D printing]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:33, 22 August 2016
Introduction
Thesis project boards are physical visualization tools that help folks with both planning and monitoring a Master or PHD thesis. They also are social tools: Being on display in an office or a living room, a project board will show others "where your are".
Project boards can be created with any sort of materials, e.g. a whiteboard or wall plus PostIts. In this article we will focus on boards made with Legos and that is described in the Lego-compatible thesis project board article
This experience has been conducted in 2012/2013 and may be renewed in the future. Currently, the purpose of this wiki page was twofold:
- Track the evolution of pilot user's appropriation of the concept
- Write down ideas, etc.
The concept has been presented as a poster [1] at EIAH '2015
User testing
In November 2012, we started involving PhD students in the project.
User 1
Subject: PhD student in an earlier stage of thesis (project accepted by thesis commission)
User 1 went through several stages. Below we just summarize some elements:
Stages (so far, nov 2012 to March 2013)
- Used the project board
- Used a bigger standard Lego board in order to regroup, add extra handwritten bricks, add progress stairs.
- Use a still bigger standard Lego board in order to create connections, add "stories", etc.
- Destroyed the structure
- Designed visualization that focuses on a small set of essential current elements she is working on.
We define stage as a major shift. Within each stage, there have been variations that are just documented with pictures.
Stage 2
- nov 19 2012
- Includes labeling of chapters
- Adds a general progress indicator (stairs brought in from home)
- Identifies more issues
- Adds "play" bricks
- Two other PHD students want one
Stage 3
- nov 22 2012
- Adds connectors (the arcs) visualizing how a task and an issue and 2 issues are connected
- Uses extra bricks (e.g. a gate-in)
- Adds persona (thesis advisor, kids, ...)
- Identifies yet more issues
- Layout is often changed/updated (sometimes several times per day)
Stage 3b
- This layout starts attracting other users for play. On 11/29 a colleague moved up the persona on the stairs.
Stage 4
January 8, 2013.
In the cloud. User feels that the project doesn't advance enough.
In addition, there is some focus on essential issues:
Stage 5
February, 2013
User 2
Subject: PhD student in an earlier stage of thesis (project accepted by thesis commission). Some literature review and development done.
User 2 shares office with user 1 and immediately wanted to work with a large board.
Stage 1
Nov 23 2012.
- Separated issues into two different kinds (these related and external/others)
- Associated chapter bricks with task bricks
The following pictures show a prototype after a few minutes into the "game"
Stage 2
8 January 2013
User 2 associated types of bricks next to each other and also added other artifacts
Stage 3
On february 2013, the same type of layout was used. Changes:
- A new visualisation of some kind of pilot using handles
- A broken link (pink arc that doesn't connect)
- Some progress meters going up
User 3
User three (on a short visit, from a different institution) was shown the boards from use 1 and 2, liked the idea. Since we didn't print any special purpose bricks, he only given standard Lego pieces:
- A medium-sized base plate
- 3x3 tiles
- 4x2 tiles
- 2x2 tiles
- 2x2 tiles with a question mark
His PHD project includes the design of a collaborative "knowledge tool", i.e. some kind of applied computer science, the kind that can be done in an interdisciplinary research lab....
Phase 1
Feb 26 2013 (about one week later)
Layout after a week including a printed artifact that represents a core concept of the system developed with the thesis
Bibliography
- ↑ Schneider, Daniel, K. (2015). Visualisation de projets de thèse avec un dispositif physique et constructif. Actes de la conférence EIAH 2015, Agadir, Maroc. Preprint: http://tecfa.unige.ch/tecfa/talks/schneide/eiah-2015/Schneider_EIAH2015-lego-final.pdf
- Denio, Donna and Dieter Reuther (2016). Build to Lead, How Lego Bricks Can Make You a Better Leader, O'Reilly. Available online (free). http://www.oreilly.com/business/free/build-to-lead.csp
- Schneider, Daniel, K. (2015). Visualisation de projets de thèse avec un dispositif physique et constructif. Actes de la conférence EIAH 2015, Agadir, Maroc.