Using personas for designing knowledge and learning services: results of an ethnographically informed study

  • Authors:
  • Ronald Maier;Stefan Thalmann

  • Affiliations:
  • University of Innsbruck Information Systems, Universitaetsstrasse 15, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.;University of Innsbruck Information Systems, Universitaetsstrasse 15, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

  • Venue:
  • International Journal of Technology Enhanced Learning
  • Year:
  • 2010

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Abstract

Traditional research on learning does not sufficiently consider the strong IT support that recently has become available in organisations. Based on the findings of an ethnographically informed study of a German software house, this paper presents three idealised personas that represent distinctive informal learner types. The rich descriptions of the personas are discussed in relation to a number of theories on motivational aspects, informing practices and levels of expertise and result in the three service areas individuation, interaction and in-form-ation. The paper is concluded by a set of theses about designing and guiding usage of knowledge and learning services.