Design based research is focused on ‘research, design and pedagogical
practice’ as the researcher engages with an identified practical
problem (Joseph, 2004, p. 235). Collins, Joseph and Bielaczyc (2004)
describe the aims of this research approach as to refine both theory
and practice as researchers develop plausible solutions to complex
theoretical problems (Reeves, 2006). In the research reported herein,
design based research was selected to guide us in the development of
the ‘teacher wisdom’ learning task and to help us as researchers and
teacher educators to better understand the potential of mobile
technologies when used as a medium between learning contexts. The
four phases of design based research are now described in connection
with this inquiry.