Weekly Schedule

CLASS 1 – SEP 9

Intro to Learning, People & Spaces 

Topics & Discussion
  • Class introductions
  • Introduction to tangibles for learning 
  • Introduction to designing with/for/by people 
  • Syllabus, class expectations, assignments, grading, supplies, etc.
Design & Construction Lab
  • Brief intro to people & spaces (prototyping facilities and tools @370 Jay St & NYU Tandon MakerSpace) 
  • Analog math manipulatives exploration & reflection
Assignments for Next Week

Looking ahead:
Assignment #1:  MakerSpace Training due on 9/23 (sign up asap!) 
Assignment #2:  Manipulatives Assignment due on 9/30

CLASS 2 – SEP 16
Learning Theories & Tangibles
Topics & Discussion
  • Check-in about all class-related questions! 
  • Discussion leaders for this week on Learning Theories & Tangibles
  • Learning Theories Introduction — Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Constructivism, & Constructionism 
  • Discussion on Tangibles & Videos
Design & Construction Lab 
Assignments for Next Week
CLASS 3 – SEP 23
Learning Theories & Microcontrollers
Topics & Discussion
  • Discussion leaders for this week on Design Research, TUI Design & MagneTracks 
  • Learning Theories review
    • Cognitivism: Information Processing
    • Constructivism
    • Embodiment
    • Distributed Cognition 
    • Collaborative Learning  
  • Into to Microcontrollers & Educational Hardware Platforms 
Design & Construction Lab
  • Make Learning Theories reference card
  • Explore & Play with physical computing platforms for education (Microbit, MakeyMakey, Cibi Clip, DanceBits, etc.)

Assignments for Next Week

CLASS 4 – SEPT 30
Empathy, Equity, & Computing
Topics & Discussion
  • Discussion leaders for this week on Tangibility, Empathy & Design 
  • Empathy in Design and counter perspectives on Design Thinking and the limitations of HCD
  • Analog Manipulatives Assignment Show & Tell! 
Design & Construction Lab
  • Physical Computing Lab: 
    • Overview, what is a micro-controller
    • Breadboard and wires
    • Hello World! (Blinking LEDs)
    • First Circuit: Digital Input & Output
    • Programming basics 
Assignments for Next Week
  • Read & React:
    • de Medeiros Braz, Leonara, et al. “Participatory design of technology for inclusive education: A case study.” International Conference on Universal Access in Human-Computer Interaction. Springer, Cham, 2017 (Drive or NYU Library)
    • Costanza-Chock, Sasha. Design Justice, Chapter 2: “Nothing about us without us”  (NYU Library or Drive )
  • Assignment #3: Start planning for the first part of your Interactive Electronics design. Start identifying the input & output you want to try, and the interaction you want to design! You can/should work in teams of 2-3ppl. Due 10/15.
CLASS 5 – OCT 7
Preparing for Partner Visit
Topics & Discussion
  • Discussion leaders for this week on Participatory Design & Design Justice
  • Introduction to Final Project 
    • Themes for this year & project overview 
    • How to prepare for Partner’s visit & interview

Design & Construction Lab

  • Microcontrollers and sensors continued
    • Digital vs. Analog
    • Thinking about interactions & making your own sensor
  • Open questions/troubleshooting tips
Assignments for Next Week
  • Continue working on Assignment #3: your simple interactive learning game is due 10/28 but the first part, thinking about what input and output you want to prototype is due next week, 10/15. 
  • Read & Discuss:
    • Getting Down to Details: Using Theories of Cognition and Learning to Inform Tangible User Interface Design (Journal Link, Drive)
    • Seven Principles to Design Embodied Sensemaking [Video][Paper]
  • Project Milestone #1: Prepare interview questions for our community partner. Conduct some background research on the organization and mission to identify your questions ahead of next week’s visit!
CLASS 6 – OCT 15 !! Monday on Tuesday !!
Designing Interactions and Partner Interview
Topics & Discussion
  • Discussion leaders for this week on Learning, Interfaces and our Bodies. 
  • Prep for partner interview (i.e. consolidate & organize interview questions) 
  • Input & Output Assignment Show & Tell! 
Data Analysis Lab
  • Interview Stacey Ornstein — Project Community Partner
  • Overview of Project Deliverables for Following Week
    • What is an annotated bibliography
    • Affinity Diagramming/Clustering  
    • Qualitative Coding/Thematic Analysis 
    • Rose Bud Thorn method (Qualities, Opportunities and Challenges
Assignments for Next Week
CLASS 7 – OCT 21
Project Brainstorming & Prototyping
Topics & Discussion
  • Discussion leaders for this week on Interaction Design and Prototypes. 
  • Discuss Project Themes and begin the group formation process. 
  • Checking in regarding Arduino Assignment due next week! 
Design & Construction Lab
  • Open questions/troubleshooting tips for microcontroller project
  • In-class Project time:
    • Initial problem brainstorming, begin crafting your design goals, solidify your topic domain, and begin crafting your learning objectives.
    • Sketching — translating insights into activity design ideas 
    • As a reference, you can check out NYC curriculum resources and Science Scope and Sequence for grades k-8.
    • Designing a playtest for early playtesting with Stacey. What questions do you have for our partner and how can your prototype/sketches facilitate answering them?
Assignments for Next Week
CLASS 8 – OCT 28
Workshopping Final Project Ideas
Topics & Discussion
  • Discussion leaders for this week on YPAR and Participatory Design for Learning 
  • Interactive Learning Game Show & Tell! 
  • Final project ideas
Design & Construction Lab
  • In-class Project time:
    • Initial problem brainstorming, begin crafting your design goals, solidify your topic domain, and begin crafting your learning objectives.
    • Sketching — translating insights into activity design ideas 
    • As a reference, you can check out NYC curriculum resources and Science Scope and Sequence for grades k-8.
    • Designing a playtest for early playtesting with Stacey. What questions do you have for our partner and how can your prototype/sketches facilitate answering them?
  • Designing materials for early playtesting:  
    • “ingredients” for the curriculum activity
    • What would students make in the end (what media are they exploring)
    • Sketches of the tangibles
    • The larger theme & smaller learning goal
    • We could use some of these brainstorming exercises to facilitate or worksheets/cards
Assignments for Next Week
  • Read & Discuss:
    • Bal, Alexandra, Jason Nolan, and Yukari Seko. “Mélange of Making: Bringing Children’s Informal Learning Cultures to the Classroom.” NYU Link and Drive 
  • Project Milestone #4: Draft of Learning Activity Design & Curriculum plan.
CLASS 9 – NOV 4
Early Playtesting 
Topics & Discussion
  • Discussion leaders for this week on Children Maker Culture.
  • In-class user testing: how to provide feedback to each other 
Design & Construction Lab
  • Playtesting early ideas! 
    • Sharing of 3 lo-fi prototypes for the final project
    • Low-Fi playtesting of certain aspects of the design 
    • Sharing early stage ideas for learning activity designs 
  • Project time 
Assignments for Next Week
  • Post a one-page reflection on your findings from early playtesting. What changes, further research, and iterations would you like to make for next week?
  • Project Milestone #5: Iterate on your ideas to produce a higher fidelity prototype for the teachers’ visit next week. The prototypes should be in playable/interactable form. Here is an activity template as well as a higher level curriculum template example from Allergic to Salad. You don’t need to use these but they are here if they are helpful! 
  • Add 5 sources to your annotated bibliography relevant to your theme/idea/topic, and document it online. 
CLASS 10 – NOV 11
Testing Higher-fidelity Prototypes 
Topics & Discussion
  • Learning Goals and Objectives discussion 
  • Sharing of higher fidelity prototype in progress and your curriculum activity 
  • Designing for Accessibility
Design & Construction Lab
  • Playtesting with Partners & educators!
  • Troubleshooting and debugging prototypes 
Assignments for Next Week
  • Read & Discuss:
    • Instructional Design Evaluation by Cheryl Calhoun, Shilpa Sahay, & Matthew Wilson (Chapter 14) in McDonald, J. K. & West, R. E. (2021). Design for Learning: Principles, Processes, and Praxis (1st ed.). EdTech Books.
  • Project Milestone #6: Prepare a draft of a feedback and evaluation form for the students to fill out on the day of your activity. How do you plan to capture information about learners’ experiences? 
  • Continue iterating on your higher fidelity prototype based on feedback session.  
CLASS 11 – NOV 18
Evaluating Learning Experiences
Topics & Discussion
  • Evaluating a Learning Environment & Learner Evaluations
  • Making the most of the user test: documenting findings and how they will impact the final design. 
Design & Construction Lab
  • Iterate & build out your activity for students 
  • Preparing for testing!
Assignments for Next Week
  • Project Milestone #7: High-fidelity prototype in preparation for user testing session & lesson plan and additional resources for feedback. 
CLASS 12 – NOV 25
Iterating & Project Work
Topics & Discussion
  • Get ready for High-Fi User testing 
  • Plan how you will run with the students 
Design & Construction Lab
  • Prepare for user testing with real middle-school students!
  • Finalize evaluation plan 
  • Project time
Assignments for Next Week
  • Document findings from user testing, plan for changes.
  • Iterate on Final Prototype.
CLASS 13 – DEC 2
Testing with Learners
Topics & Discussion
  • High-Fi User testing 
  • Student test run with Community Partner at Partner’s site! 
Design & Construction Lab
  • Prepare any last items for user testing with real middle-school students!
Assignments for Next Week
  • Document findings from user testing, plan for changes.
  • Project Milestone #8: Iterate and work on your final Presentation! 
  • Final round of iterations on your prototype. 
CLASS 14 – DEC 9
Final Presentations 
Topics & Discussion
  • Final Prototype Presentations and Sharing
  • Sharing of lessons learned
  • Final Report Expectations 
Assignments for Next Week
  • Project Milestone #9: Final Report/Project Documentation.  
  • Course evaluations 
  • Team assessment
FINALS WEEK – DUE DEC 16

We won’t be meeting, but all project documentation and final report are due.