Use cultural informants from the target community to buffer against stereotyping and bias¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The article describes cultural informants—members of the target audience who assist and inform design decisions—as a culturally pluralistic design specification. The informant 'acts as a buffer to inadvertently stereotyping or presenting biased perspectives' and helps ensure accurate portrayal of traditions, language and community interests. With the informant's assistance, designers can foster communication and understanding between the design team and the target audience.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• The cultural informant is usually a member of the community being designed for

Constraints¶

• Designers must still consider multiple interpretations and perspectives that can influence the design process

Target Learners¶

• Instructional designers working with culturally diverse learner communities

Target Learning Goals¶

• Accurate, non-stereotyped portrayal of the target community in instructional materials

Related Strategies¶

• Use ethnographic research methods to authenticate culture-specific designs for target audiences
• De-centering: reject the focus on Western ideologies and promote the target audience's culture and learning needs
• Address Biases in the Use of Language and Symbols

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Patricia A. Young. (2008). Integrating Culture in the Design of ICTs. British Journal of Educational Technology, Vol 39 No 1, 6-17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8535.2007.00699.x