ABSTRACT
The purpose of this chapter is to describe the state of research and theory in the area of user design in instructional and informational sciences. In recent decades the importance of the learner and user has increased considerably. However, a comprehensive consideration of the underlying theories that contribute to user design as a construct, as well as a careful explication of the research that contributes to our understanding of engaging users, is currently lacking in the literature. This is particularly the case in the educational technology literature.
