Étude exploratoire sur le travail en équipe d’étudiants dans l’atelier de design : vers un modèle d’évaluation pour l’apprentissage basé sur la théorie de l’activité et l’apprentissage expansif

This thesis proposes an exploratory study on teamwork practices of design students in the context of project-based learning (in the domains of product and service design, interior design, urbanism, etc.). This study aims to develop a model of assessment for learning teamwork.  For the past few decades, teamwork has been integrated within most design curricula. These social learning experiences place students in authentic situations, but recurring challenges keep emerging regarding their educational integration. We aim to enhance our understanding of assessment, which has a crucial influence on learning experiences. Based on a literature review on teamwork dynamics, the research is structured in two stages. Firstly, the research focuses on better understanding team learning experiences. Secondly, we seek to identify guidelines to enhance assessment for learning teamwork during design projects. Our research objectives are developed into the following questions: How do students experience their learning process when they work as a team while designing? And how to support the development of teamwork skills? Assessment for learning will guide us in considering assessment as a key aspect to engage learners in judging their performance. Assessment for learning values social externalization over internalization through the zones of development. This position guides toward a theoretical framework based on the activity theory and the theory of expansive learning. The combination of these frameworks offers a strong theoretical structure based on collectivity, mediation, and orientation toward an expansive object. Expansive learning sees learning as moving from an abstract understanding to concrete actions to improve the system’s initial state. The adoption of an interventionist approach, as proposed by activity theory, will redefine the researcher’s role to encourage participants to take action. The methodological strategy is organized around the team projects of 22 students from the Faculty of environmental design of University of Montreal (Canada). The data was collected from multiple case studies over few weeks of teamwork. It was gathered through weekly questionnaires and interviews. Using these complementary qualitative tools, participants shared their experiences by discussing their processes. A multiphase strategy allowed for simultaneous data collection and analysis.  The first stage of analysis uncovers the characteristics of the learners’ lived teamwork experiences. In total, 33 characteristics and their respective factors were organized into the 5 categories of our model entitled: “zone of proximal development for teamwork skills”, structured according to training levels. The second part of the analysis concentrates on the theoretical validation of the model by enriching the model with the components to instruct and to assess (according to the stage of the object, types of knowledge, task qualities, learners’ capacities, and types of regulation). Finally, these guidelines are tested in regard to expansive learning by looking closely at the challenges and tensions experienced by the participants to translate each participant’s cognitive journey. This study seeks to contribute to the proposition of a coherent pedagogical framework in accordance with training levels and the basics of the discipline. Our model offers a pedagogical structure that is constructive and dynamic as it brings new knowledge to the student while being guided by an expansive structure towards collaborative design. The proposed framework is built on the reflective journey of students on themselves and others, solicited for greater autonomy. The contributions of this study are pertinent for design students, practitioners, and teachers. They seek an enhanced coherence with the discipline supported by an active perspective for better preparation of students to their future professional work environment.

Keyphrases: Design, Processus de design, Teamwork, Design process, Project-based learning, Assessment 'for' learning, Activity theory, Theory of expansive learning