Projects
Developing the new Generation of Hibrid Learnig Materials
This project is about developing and evaluating the next generation of hybrid learning materials, by creating a toolbox of Digital Manipulatives / Tangible Interfaces consisting of low cost materials, commonly used at preschool, such as paper and cardboard embedded with sensors. Children (5-6 years old) can use the materials to build their own interactive interfaces, thus exploring, simulating, and creating knowledge in an active way, being the centre of the learning process (Resnick05). The flexibility of the toolbox, allows for different types of activities i.e. children can explore it alone, in small groups or the whole class can be engaged in a common project.
“ONCE UPON A TIME”… A PAPER BASED INTERFACE FOR STORYTELLING
“Once upon a time”… is a tangible platform where children can create their own stories by placing picture cards on a book page, rearranging them until creating meaningful sequences and stories. As the cards give written and oral feedback after being placed on the book, they help children to reflect on their narratives. The tangibility of the interface supports children’s creative expression making it easy for young children to interact with the content, transforming the creation of a story in a multitude of stimuli that range from: sensory (the physical handling of the paper cards, the integration of the body movements), visual (combining different symbols), auditory (by placing the cards on the book they trigger the corresponding sound), in a process where physical symbols become virtual (the cards trigger the corresponding written text).
see the video: Children’s first interaction with the prototype.
STORYTELLING THROUGH DRAWINGS: EVALUATING TANGIBLE INTERFACES FOR CHILDREN.
TUI vs GUI: Comparing the learning benefits in kindergarten children.
Looking for new ways to enable a thorough and consistent learning, we wanted to know at what extent a tangible interface (TUI) is more efficient than a graphical interface (GUI) in terms of teaching/learning. This project compares a TUI and a GUI with the same content and it was carried with two groups of kindergarten children aged 4 to 5 years.
Questionnaires and drawing intervention (DI) were used to access children’s preferences.
Group A, composed by 18 children, experienced the tangible interface. Group B, composed by 23 children, interacted with the graphical interface. After the interaction children were asked to go in another room and draw what they had seen.
The children that interacted with the graphical interface drew mostly just the tooth with germs and sometimes the brush.
The drawings from the children that interacted with the tangible interface are very complete and detailed. The majority of the children drew themselves holding the toothbrush, they drew not only the tangible objects but also the surrounding scenery, their friends or the other children. Actually some of the drawings are so detailed, that someone, who does not know the system setup can reconstruct it based on the drawings.
see the video: Virtually Brushing my Tooth
