ERIC Number: ED599859
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2017-Apr-28
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-
EISSN: N/A
Little Builders: Finding Purposes in Making in a Constructionist-Learning Environment Using Human-Centered Design
Thanapornsangsuth, Sawaros
AERA Online Paper Repository, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (San Antonio, TX, Apr 27-May 1, 2017)
This research presents two case studies on how human-centered design process can help the students find their purpose in making and designing in a constructionist learning-environment. Human-centered design guides students to deeper understanding of others' needs and encourages them to think and act collaboratively and creatively. When the students are making prototypes, they are creating objects-to-think-with, which enables them to express themselves, learn, explore and experiment with new knowledge and boundaries. The research is implemented through the Little Builders program, a month long four-day program in Bangkok, Thailand. Its design builds upon the constructionist framework with the support of human-centered design process, providing 8th grade students in a Thai urban school the opportunity to design and build social innovations as a team in an after school setting.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Middle School Students, Grade 8, At Risk Students, Constructivism (Learning), Cooperative Learning, Active Learning, Student Projects, After School Programs, Construction (Process), Design, Urban Schools
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Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; Elementary Education; Grade 8
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Thailand (Bangkok)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A