Characteristics and challenges of design research: The example of a teaching experiment in primary school

Abstract

This article focuses on a teaching experiment, concerning the learning of multiplication developed by a researcher in a 3rd grade class in collaboration with the teacher. We discuss the main features of the design research which assumes the modality of teaching experiment, and we underline its specificities and identify the challenges put to the researcher and the teacher in the course of the research process, according to the stages of preparation of the experience, experimentation in the classroom and retrospective analysis. Several central aspects of this experience emerge: a permanent link between the research and the planning and implementation in the class, grounded on the analysis of the trial of the proposed tasks, as well as the role of retrospective analysis in recognizing favorable elements in the class environment that promote the targeted learning. The characteristics of this activity pose challenges to the researcher, due to the need of substantial time and to the gathering of a large volume of data as well as to the teacher for the availability required to work collaboratively with the researcher and to adjust her practices over a significant period of time.