Designing the future among the fjords: Teaching and learning as a Fulbright Scholar in Norway
By: Derek Lackaff
Tags: International, Fulbright, Teaching, Education, Interaction Design

But then, we took things further. The students analyzed their data to identify a challenge faced by each company and developed an approach to solving that problem. One of the teams was embedded in Bergens Tidene, for example, and worked closely with editors, journalists, and other newsroom staff. Though their research, the students realized that the current process of dealing with news tips from the public — ideas for potential news stories — was relatively cumbersome. In the final part of the course, the students learned about the “design sprint” prototyping process and produced a new system to streamline the tips process for both the public and the BT editors and journalists. The culminating assignment was a demo day, where all the student groups presented their work to each other, their faculty, and to the professional partners. This type of innovative and meaningful collaboration among faculty, industry partners, and students reflects the educational ethos that is emerging at Media City Bergen. I look forward to experimenting with some of these models back at Elon.

This spring, I am teaching a first-year, second semester course in the media and interaction design bachelors program focused on visual design and communication. I wanted to develop a project that took full advantage of my presence in Bergen, and my ability to work across multiple networks, so I brainstormed with colleagues on both sides of the Atlantic. The result is that my interaction design students in Bergen will be collaborating on a course project with journalism students in North Carolina. The outline of the project is that the American students will be producing journalism in the form of text, photos, videos, and data. The Norwegian students will be taking that content and designing an interactive multimedia news feature, of the kind you may have seen on major media websites. The students on both sides will have an opportunity to practice their craft in a meaningful way, but more importantly, they will experience the excitement of intercultural exchange and the real-world challenges of collaboration.

Based in Norway, but interesting opportunities also emerge elsewhere.

There is so much more happening that I would share if I had time. I’ve given lectures and seminars for my department and the university’s pedagogical institute on themes like active learning and student assessment. I sit with interesting and open colleagues who are always happy to discuss their work, and we are already planning for UiB faculty and students to visit Elon. I am taking Norwegian language classes, and meet with a local language buddy who is determined that I’ll learn Bergensk [the Bergen dialect] instead of Østnorsk [the dialect most foreigners learn]. My family is sharing in this amazing adventure, so our experience of Norway is informed from many different social and cultural perspectives.

Some people suggest that geography is dead in the age of email, Skype, and Facebook. I can think of at least five friends working in different companies in Silicon Valley who would be delighted to sell you videoconferencing software or a remote collaboration platform. The key insight of the junior senator from Arkansas, however, was that “to promote international understanding, to turn nations into people, and to build academic and scholarly excellence” we need real human interaction and conversation. I’m deeply honored to be helping pursue this vision in Norway 70 years later.

I’d like to extend my sincere thanks to the Deputy Chief of Mission for this opportunity to celebrate the Fulbright Norway program, and to the embassy staff, especially the Public Affairs Section, for welcoming us. To the University of Bergen and Leif Ove Larsen for the invitation to join InfoMedia for a year. And finally to the fantastic staff of Fulbright Norway who have so cheerfully and competently facilitated the exchange for my assembled colleagues and me. We appreciate all that you do.