Patterns and Pattern Languages in Educational Design

This chapter provides an overview of recent research and development (R&D) activity in the area of educational design patterns and pattern languages. It provides a context for evaluating this line of R&D by sketching an account of the practice of educational design, highlighting some of its difficulties and the ways in which design patterns and other aids to design might play a role. It foregrounds a tension between optimising design performance and supporting the evolution of design expertise. The chapter provides examples of recent research by the authors on design patterns for networked learning, as well as pointers to complementary research by others. Connections are made with R&D work on learning design and other approaches to supporting design activity.