ABSTRACT
I begin this argument with this fictitious vignette to demonstrate some of the fears researchers may have about participatory design (PD) in the development of learning environments. As experts in the field of the learning sciences and instructional design, we may have some uncomforting reservations about giving stakeholders key access to developing new learning innovations and environments. For instance, a number of studies indicate that learners do not always know what strategies are best for their own learning (Kirschner & van Merriënboer, 2013). As a result, this may lead to concerns of the Homer Simpson PD situation for instructional designers-that is, developing learning environments that do not meet our end learning goals because learners themselves do not have a grasp of learning theories and strategies for design. However, a number of researchers in the learning sciences are using PD as part of designing new environments and learning technologies (see Bonsignore et al., 2013 for more details).
