The concept of “un-design” is an interesting one to consider in an online course. After all, courses are generally about structure. They’re about the delivery of contents in a way that the learning is accessible, offered in developmental stages, supported by the readings and activities, and memorable. When I initially think of un-design, I think of a rummage sale, but there’s something more to this idea that needs exploration. I have a queasy feeling it won’t go anywhere good…but why not?

Speculations about Un-Design

So what would an un-design look like? What would the ultimate course look like with un-design? Is this about not having an ultimate learning path? Is this about having little designed pieces? Is this maybe about having free-floating pieces of information? Is this about having an infused randomization? A user-created space?

Does “un-design” mean not using evidence in creating learning experiences and learning spaces? Is it haphazard and serendipitous? Or is this purely intuitive? Whimsical? Illogical? Is it barebones? Is it derivative of something pre-existing, something poured into a prior mold?

Economical Modeling?

Maybe un-design is quick-and-dirty. It’s about saving on resources… It’s a thin sketch or prototype, with plenty of assumptions that are understood in-house but without any excess detail. Maybe it’s only a general sense of direction, and then it’s all free-form development from there.

Avoiding Purposive Design

Is there a good reason to avoid purposive design? To avoid that human tendency to organize?

There may be something to be said for creating shared spaces with affordances…for a co-evolution of a curriculum…with only the bare hallmarks of control. I am thinking that these ideas may go somewhere, but without a chapter or some article as a reason to try to build these ideas, I think I’ll just simplify and throw these ideas out to you.