Stephen Downes

Most educational designers don't think of themselves as software architects, but of course, that's what they are. And as such, this document - which starts from the premise that most people already have the software they need - will be relevant. Especially in education, designers are competing with existing products - the classroom, the television, the telephone, the book. This article outlines the six principles needed to make an impact: do one thing, not everything; collaborate with existing software; make the interface unobtrustive; simplify use; release early and often; comply with standards instead of building new ones.