Assessing the Effectiveness of Open Organizing as a Model for Re-designing Design Learning*
Aditya Johri, Hon Jie Teo · International journal of engineering education · 2012
In this paper we assess the appropriateness of open organizing as a model for re-designing design education. First, we review prior work on open organizing, particularly open innovation, to understand what makes these approaches novel and successful. Next, we draw on empirical findings from field studies of open source software projects that leverage open innovation principles and outline the advantages that accrue from interacting with external communities and participants, thereby increasing the authenticity of projects, and of making the design task the cornerstone of the learning activity—as opposed to structuring learning around a person. Finally, we synthesize lessons for creating open design experiences and offer suggestions that are equally applicable to in-class undergraduate design projects and to informal design projects undertaken by students.