Noticing Failure in Maker Activities: Insights From Video Reflection (Poster 44)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Thursday 1:45 p.m.
  In Poster Session: Innovative Designs and Novel Lines of Inquiry in Formal and Informal Learning Environments

Abstract

This study was part of a project to adapt, implement, and refine a professional development program for productively attending, interpreting, and responding to youths’ experiences with failure while engaged in making tasks in informal learning contexts. We report what educators noticed in moments of failure from their interactions with guests which were video recorded and selected to reflect and discuss as a group. We present eight collections of example failure moments categorized by who and what fails in the moments selected. The noticed failure focused on the visitor (61%), the educator (27%), or the setup (12%) and occurred with intervention, language, problem solving, attention, and materials. This collection of failure moments can be used for discussing facilitation in maker contexts.

Authors

• Lauren Penney

• Amber Simpson, Binghamton University - SUNY

• Alice C. Anderson, The Forum for Youth Investment

• Adam V. Maltese, Indiana University