Social Design Experiments: Toward Equity by Design

TLDR

The article proposes a design research approach that seeks to transform the educational and social circumstances of non‑dominant communities to promote social equity and learning. This approach, termed social design experimentation, is illustrated through two examples that reorganize sociohistorical practices to expand learning opportunities. The authors conclude that social design experiments offer learning scientists opportunities to partner with communities and responsibilities to advance a more just society.

Abstract

In this article, we advance an approach to design research that is organized around a commitment to transforming the educational and social circumstances of members of non-dominant communities as a means of promoting social equity and learning. We refer to this approach as social design experimentation. The goals of social design experiments include the traditional aim of design experiments to create theoreticallygrounded and practical educational interventions, the social agenda of ameliorating and redressing historical injustices, and the development of theories focused on the organization of equitable learning opportunities. To illustrate how we use social design methodology, we present two examples that strategically reorganized the sociohistorical practices of communities to expand learning as a key goal. We conclude with a discussion of the opportunities this approach creates for learning scientists to form effective research partnerships with community members, as well as the responsibilities it entails for creating a more just society.