Digital Life connects research with -online- education
09-04-2020
During the minor ‘Designing User Research’ of Communication & Multimedia Design (CMD), researchers were invited this Spring to give a class during one week of different design methods. The method that Tamara Pinos – researcher at Digital Life – chose, is called Tinkering. Tinkering is a method to gain knowledge through experimentation with materials and tools. It is a way to get new ideas and learn.
During one week, which coincided with the first week of social distancing because of Covid-19, the students of this minor -Designing User Research- were able to experiment by hacking toys, digital tools or by building something with objects that they could find at home. Most of the students chose to hack a toy although a couple of them chose to tinker with Cognimates and Scratch, to build a lamp or make a purse (and learn to use a sewing machine!).
In the end it turned out great, the students were able to learn about circuits in existing toys, modify them to create new functionalities, take apart and mix circuits from different objects like music cards and bike lights and the basics of coding (Scratch) and Artificial Intelligence (Cognimates). They took the opportunity to test their design with users (roommates, siblings and dogs!) and found creative ways to even include the glitches in their new circuits as part of the new character’s personality. It was a lot of trying out, getting inspired, being creative and also finding solutions! Skills which are very necessary under the current circumstances.
We thank our education colleagues of CMD for the opportunity to connect and share our knowledge on research methods with their students!