Teachers as Learners, Then Designers

• In Event: 26.081 - Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: 26.081-9 - Advanced Technologies for Learning Poster Session

Abstract

While digital fabrication appears to offer opportunities for constructionist, participatory learning, little is known about teachers’ ideas for its use in classrooms. We report results from a pilot study with in-service teachers contrasting two levels of prior experience with digital fabrication (none versus experienced briefly as a learner). Teachers were asked how they would use digital fabrication in their classrooms and their ideas were coded. Those with no fabrication experience suggested instructionist uses. Those who experienced it as a learner suggested more complex design tasks that included having their students design objects; they developed more nuanced understanding of design practices, suggesting greater opportunities for constructionist, participatory learning, even following a brief experience with the technology as a learner.

Authors

• Vanessa Svihla, University of New Mexico

• Trisha D. Steinbrecher, University of New Mexico

• Jamie Mae Collins, University of New Mexico

• Matthew Gines, The University of New Mexico

• Yin Yang, The University of New Mexico