Socio-cognitive Engineering

Mike Sharples (1)

1 Learning Sciences Research Institute

Socio-cognitive engineering is a framework for the human-centred design of technology-based systems to enhance human knowledge working, decision making, collaboration and learning. Like user-centred design, it draws on the knowledge of potential users and involves them in the design process. But it extends beyond individual users to analyse the activity systems of people and their interaction with technology, including their social interactions, styles and strategies of working, and language and patterns of communication, to form a composite picture of human knowledge and activity that can inform system design. The framework consists of two main parts: a phase of activity analysis to interpret how people work and interact with their current tools and technologies, and a phase of systems design to build and implement new interactive technology. Socio-cognitive engineering has been refined and tested through a series of projects to develop computer systems for supporting learning and knowledge working.

Keywords: human centred systems design; software engineering

Domains: Technology for Human Learning

Mike Sharples. Socio-cognitive Engineering. C. Ghaoui. Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction, IGI Global, pp.542-547, 2006, Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction. ⟨hal-00190312⟩