Year: 2025
Type: reference-entry
Abstract: Design justice is an emerging framework that centers marginalized communities in the design of systems and technologies. Originating from the intersection of design, technology, and social justice movements, design justice challenges traditional design practices that often reinforce societal inequities. When applied to online education, it prompts critical examination of who benefits from digital learning environments and whose needs are overlooked. The framework operates on the principle that those most affected by a system should have a central role in designing it, going beyond accessible or universal design to fundamentally alter power structures within the design process itself. This entry introduces the principles of design justice and explores their relevance to online education and instructional design, arguing that seemingly neutral elements of course design—such as assessment modes, interface layout, or content formats can perpetuate inequities if created without attention to learners’ diverse contexts.
Source: Encyclopedia
Authors: Florence W. Williams, Martha J. Hubertz
Institution: University of Central Florida
Language: English
Topic: Online and Blended Learning
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,207
OpenAlex ID: W4415458362