TinkerBell

Team members: Gaurav Keerthi Heidi Chang Motohide Hatanaka Albert Su

June 6, 2001

Introduction

Topic Enriching the school field trip experience

Audience 3rd and 4th graders Teachers and chaperones

Purpose To create a vehicle for collaborative

learning

The Five Problem Facets

5-point star Most salient

aspects of field trips

Used to evaluate design ideas and state of the art products

Insights – observations, interview, usertests

Video: Kids in actionWhat the kids showed us

Form is key – reduce desire to throw, twirl, bop, bounce Common functions—camera, walkie talkie, voice

recorder Kids group themselves in fours and fives Palm-sized devices Rewards—pencils, stickers, photos, replaying recordings

Usertests with Kids: Plugged In, East Palo Alto; Individual interview with Sarah, age 10

Insights – observations, interview, usertests

What the Educators said About kids

Being fair and equal Rules are made by people and rules help to make groups

function Exerting independence Kids need specific jobs/roles/responsibilities

About Chaperones and Teachers Designate roles within group Help to facilitate group process

Individual teacher interviews: Rita Wang (2nd grade), Molly Heckscher (k-5 science), Jenny Smith (3rd-5th grade), Debbie Hoeltzel (4th grade), Helen SooHoo (4th grade)

Museum educator interviews: Kam McCowan and Stephanie Delancey (SJ Tech Museum), Lauren Silver and Patience Young (Cantor Center for Visual Arts)

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Solution - concept

Multiple devices shared among group of students-one device function per child

Serves as a vehicle for helping kids to work and stay in groups

Learning pieces (tasks) will be created by educators from the field trip site and/or teachers

Solution – kid devices

Walkie talkie CameraVoice recorderMapTask log

Solution – common function

Personal neck tag Name tag Emergency button RF/GPS beacon Memory card

Data transfer via docking station for classroom use

Swappable devices Device + Neck tag

Solution – industrial design

Form Rounded ellipse Simple layout

Color LEGO colors

Solution – teacher’s role

Before the trip Task preparation Name/photo list Schedule Emergency/contact information

During the trip Monitoring safety and progress Dynamic data changes

After the trip Giving closure to the experience

Solution – chaperone device

Only used during the trip

Kid locatorWalkie talkie

Experts’ comments

“…handheld computing devices have a tremendous - and untapped - potential to enhance school field trips - for students, chaperones, and teachers. ” - SJ Tech Museum Education Specialist

“The project sounds exciting!” – 4th grade teacher

Design Process - highlights

Abstract problem statement

Broad research & observation

Accurate problem identification

5-point star analysis & evaluation

Design Process - effective factors

Active Discussion

User testingRole playing

Expert inputs

Relaxed meetings

Incorporation of skills, expertise, talents

Matching intereststo project

Future of the TinkerBells

Bringing the magic of

Never Never Land into your

field trip!

See you on the other side of Never Never Land!