Towards a Critical Design Agenda in Support of Collective Learning Ecologies

This position paper seeks to chart a critical design agenda in support of collective learning ecologies, evolving assemblages of digital, spatial, social, cultural, and/or knowledge resources that are aimed to foster forms of collective learning and knowledge creation. Starting from an ecological perspective on learning, the paper challenges individualistic notions of learning and instrumental understandings of educational technology and argues that there is a need for educational formats and technologies capable to support learners engaged in epistemic endeavors that reach beyond established institutional boundaries and address them as responsible citizens. It is argued that there is a need (a) to take stock of new and alternative knowledge practices, (b) to reconsider the existing social, legal and technical protocols, standards, and infrastructures, (c) to cultivate social relations beyond institutional boundaries, as well as (d) to work towards a pedagogy of articulation and risk.