Individual user goals, such as avoiding cognitive load, can contradict the objectives of the educational community¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · theoretical r2–r3 · q2
Currency · newest study 1999 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person
Evidence quality · No study behind this claim is a peer-reviewed article with a DOI: it rests on an ERIC document (a report, conference paper or thesis). It is kept because 5 design pages cite it; treat it as a lead to check, not an established finding.

Subclaims¶

q2 i? Contradictions between community objectives (the implementing organization's goals) and individual objectives (the typical end-user's goals) are gaining increasing attention in discussions of workplace computer systems, and appear in education as well. → Gilbert 1999 q2 i? Perkins observed that an individual goal of many student computer users seems to be avoiding cognitive load, which contradicts the objectives of the educational community. → Gilbert 1999 (2)

Evidence¶

Gilbert 1999¶

Gilbert, L. S. (1999). Where Is My Brain? Distributed Cognition, Activity Theory, and Cognitive Tools. Proceedings of the AECT National Convention. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED436153

q2 · i? · theoretical · r3

The paper quotes software designer Alan Cooper (1995) illustrating the contrast between organizational goals and common user goals such as not looking stupid, not making big mistakes, getting an adequate amount of work done, and having fun. The paper states these goals seem as prevalent in education as in business.

"The user's goals are often very different from what we might guess them to be. For example, we might think that an accounting clerk's goal is to process invoices efficiently. This is probably not true."

Gilbert 1999 (2)¶

Gilbert, L. S. (1999). Where Is My Brain? Distributed Cognition, Activity Theory, and Cognitive Tools. Proceedings of the AECT National Convention. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED436153

q2 · i? · theoretical · r2

The paper reports, citing Perkins (1985), that many student users' individual goal of avoiding cognitive load stands in contradiction to the objectives of the educational community. This is the paper's attribution of a prior observation, not new data.

"Perkins (1985) points out that an individual goal of many student users of computers seems to be "avoiding cognitive load," citing programming examples involving Logo."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Community projects need conceptual framing to avoid narrowing the learning object — the general claim this finding bears on, with the studies behind it
• Contradictions within and across activity systems are vital forces for change and provide a rationale for CSL — a broader claim this one bears on
• Contradictions surrounding the OLR drove students to appropriate it, transforming it from an object of confusion into an instrument of critical reflection — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Cognitive Overload Degrades Learning — related
• AI's democratizing capacity is structurally contradictory: it amplifies existing capabilities rather than closing gaps between users — related