Computers and Composition Sep 2018 Open Access

User-Centered Design In and Beyond the Classroom: Toward an Accountable Practice

Ann Shivers-McNair University of Arizona ; Joy Phillips ; Alyse Campbell University of Washington ; Hanh H. Mai ; Alice Yan ; John Forrest Macy University of Washington ; James Wenlock University of Washington ; Savannah Fry University of Washington ; Yishan Guan University of Washington

Abstract

The authors, an instructor and students, describe our practice of user-centered design on three levels: in the design and structure of an advanced undergraduate course in which we all participated, in student projects designed during the course, and in our reflections on the course presented here. We argue that principles of user-centered design can and should be more than course concepts and assignments; they can be core practices of the course that hold both students and teachers accountable for the impacts of their rhetorical choices. We offer a model for other teacher-scholars looking to involve students in the design of their courses and in writing together about their work.

Journal
Computers and Composition
Published
2018-09-01
DOI
10.1016/j.compcom.2018.05.003
Open Access
OA PDF Hybrid
Topics
multimodality

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (6)

  1. Rose et al. (2025)
    Trust the Process: A Scalable Model for UX Pedagogy
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  2. Rose et al. (2024)
    The Paradigm Shift to UX and the Durability of Usability in TPC
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Anders et al. (2023)
    Using virtual design sprints to promote inclusive collaboration in composition …
    Computers and Composition
  4. Tham et al. (2022)
    Extending Design Thinking, Content Strategy, and Artificial Intelligence into T…
    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
  5. Tham (2021)
    Engaging Design Thinking and Making in Technical and Professional Communication…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
Show all 6 →
  1. Getto (2020)
    The Story/Test/Story Method: A Combined Approach to Usability Testing and Conte…
    Computers and Composition

Cites in this index (4)

  1. Chong (2016)
    The Pedagogy of Usability: An Analysis of Technical Communication Textbooks, An…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  2. Walton et al. (2015)
    Values and Validity: Navigating Messiness in a Community-Based Research Project…
    Technical Communication Quarterly
  3. Sheridan (2010)
    Fabricating Consent: Three-Dimensional Objects as Rhetorical Compositions
    Computers and Composition
  4. Takayoshi (1999)
    No boys allowed: The World Wide Web as a clubhouse for girls
    Computers and Composition
Also cites 5 works outside this index ↓
  1. Anderson (1990)
    Cross-curricular underlife: A collaborative report on ways with academic words
    College Composition and Communication  ↗
  2. Clark (1992)
    On blocking and unblocking Sonja: A case study in two voices
    College Composition and Communication  ↗
  3. Haas (2007)
    Wampum as Hypertext: An American Indian Intellectual Tradition of Multimedia Theory and P…
    Studies in American Indian Literatures  ↗
  4. Hawisher (2004)
    Becoming literate in the information age: Cultural ecologies and the literacies of technology
    College Composition and Communication  ↗
  5. Koelsch (2013)
    Reconceptualizing the member check interview
    International Journal Of Qualitative Methods  ↗
CrossRef global citation count: 29 View in citation network →

Related Articles

  1. Journal of Business and Technical Communication Apr 2026
    Stance in CEO Statements from U.S. and Vietnamese Banks’ Annual Reports: A Corpus-Based Cross-Cultural Study ↗
    Minh Hieu Nguyen
    multimodality professional writing
  2. Journal of Business and Technical Communication Apr 2026
    An Acceptance Analysis of Firms’ Posts on Sina Weibo to Build Credibility ↗
    Chenghui Wu
    multimodality social media
  3. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    Developing Intercultural Socioemotional Communication Skills: A Hybrid Student Exchange Project Between Kenya, Ireland, and Germany ↗
    Belinda Oechsler; Yvonne Cleary; Sissi Closs
    multimodality technical communication
  4. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    What Video Games Can Tell Us About Interactive Technical Communication ↗
    Emily Kuzneski Johnson
    multimodality technical communication multilingual writers
  5. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2026
    “Is This Ethical?” New Data on the Ethical Principles and Practices of Document Design ↗
    Leslie Seawright; Amy Hodges; Timothy Ponce
    multimodality technical communication disability studies multilingual writers