NewSchool: Studying the Effects of Design Fiction through Personalized Learning Scenarios

We present two design fictions about future online learning environments, inspired by future scenarios presented in the learning analytics literature. The design fictions explore specific aspects of this future technology, its adoption and social consequences. We use Symmetry Theory to analyze the design fictions in terms of the relationship between the readers of the fictions on the one hand, and the fictional characters and technology, on the other. We argue that these relationships determine to what extent a design fiction can stimulate the reader to reflect on the future technology. As such, we present Symmetry Theory as a useful tool to analyze how an existing design fiction can stimulate reflection, and to plan the writing process of design fiction.