Combine top-down theoretical and bottom-up empirical approaches when developing domain-specific heuristics¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article recommends that developers of new domain-tailored heuristics "combine top-down (theoretical) and bottom-up (empirical) approaches to address both pedagogical and domain-specific requirements". In this study, the top-down approach drew on Jahnke et al.'s LXD dimensions while the bottom-up approach synthesized findings from a design ethnography, instructor focus groups, and a student participatory design workshop, followed by iterative expert evaluation.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Access to prior empirical studies of the target learning context
• Involvement of expert evaluators with some domain familiarity

Constraints¶

• The authors recommend heuristics be applied by experts external to the development process to avoid the inadvertent biases of those close to it

Target Learners¶

• learning experience designers and learning analytics developers

Target Learning Goals¶

• developing valid evaluation heuristics tailored to a specific professional learning domain

Related Strategies¶

• Combine bottom-up co-design with top-down executive sponsorship, cross-unit collaboration and dedicated R&D capacity to embed institutional GenAI

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Susan Harrington and Charlott Sellberg. (2026). 12 Heuristics for Learning Analytics in Simulation-Based Professional Learning. Journal of Learning Analytics, 13(1), 130-142. https://doi.org/10.18608/jla.2026.9141