User-design
User-design is founded on systems theory and thinking. Systems theory and thinking are fundamental for the effective application of human performance and instructional design technologies to organizational and educational change efforts. One of the cornerstones of systemic change is the involvement of all stakeholders in what is termed participatory- or user-design. While the value of including the users in the creation of large systems of education and human performance (such as training, computer systems, and curriculum) is apparent, the reality of such inclusive efforts has a history of failure. Meeting the challenge of shifting power dynamics, empowering stakeholders and educating for design must, at some level, fall to the leaders of any dynamic organization. Actually Wiki is a form of democratic user-design!
There is a very significant differentiation between user-design and user-centered design in that there is an emancipatory theoretical foundation and a systems theory bedrock on which user-design is founded. Indeed, user-centered design is a useful and important construct, but one that suggests that we take users as our centers, consult with users heavily etc. NOT allow users to make the decisions, not empower users with the tools that the experts use. Therefore it is essentially a very different concept than user-centered design. Thus, a wikipedia that is based on user-centered design would maintain editing power in the hands of the creator/designers and users would be allowed to propose some changes or have input on the design. In user-design, we do what we're doing here, we actually create, we are given the necessary tools to make our own entries.
Further Reading:
Banathy, B.H. (1992). Comprehensive systems design in education: building a design culture in education. Educational Technology, 22(3) 33-35.
Carr, A.A. (1997). User-design in the creation of human learning systems. Educational Technology Research and Development, 45 (3), 5-22.
Carr-Chellman, A.A., Cuyar, C., & Breman, J. (1998). User-design: A case application in health care training. Educational Technology Research and Development, 46 (4), 97-114.
Reigeluth, C. M. (1993). Principles of educational systems design. International Journal of Educational Research, 19 (2), 117-131.
Schuler, D. & Namioka, A. (1993). Participatory design: Principles and practices. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
Von Bertalanffy, L. (1968). General systems theory. New York: Braziller.
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