Participatory tensions in developing a community learning network
Abstract
This short paper reports on a study of St Christopher House (SCH), a community and social services agency that undertook an ambitious project to create a community learning network (CLN) based on a 'home-cooked' free/open source software (FOSS) content management system (CMS). The primary purpose of the CLN project was to provide adult learners with digital skills needed to secure employment in the knowledge-based economy. SCH also wanted to streamline administrative practices within the organization, reflecting an attempt to be inclusive and participatory. At the outset of the project there was an enormous investment of organizational energy, enthusiasm and participation. While this approach matched the various stakeholder expectations, the reality of transforming the CLN as an abstract ideal into practice produced internal tensions and stretched organizational capacities. This study examines the design and use of the CLN from the perspective of SCH staff in an effort to learn about how to reconcile conflicting organizational values and structures in the voluntary sector when undertaking ambitious participatory system development projects.
