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Spools and Sparks: The Role of Materiality in Computational Making with E-textiles and BBC Micro:bit

Authors:

Jennifer A Rode,

Annapoorni Chandrashekar,

Andri IoannouAuthors Info & Claims

HttF '24: Proceedings of the Halfway to the Future Symposium

Article No.: 28, Pages 1 - 11

https://doi.org/10.1145/3686169.3686182

Published: 21 October 2024 Publication History

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Abstract

This paper presents a qualitative investigation of materiality in computational making with e-textiles and the BBC micro:bit. We worked with 22 children aged 11 to 14 (9 girls and 13 boys) who completed projects, in a mixed Greek-English summer school. Our thematic analysis identified two key themes around the materiality of interaction design: (i) how materials “talk back” during design promotes computational making skills, and (ii) the interactive role of materiality and construction in supporting computational making. Our research demonstrates the criticality of understanding material properties of e-textiles to encourage children to concentrate on the aesthetic and science concepts of computational making. Finally, a key contribution of this paper is demonstrating the relevance of teaching materiality to allow children to engage with the fundamentals of somaesthetic experiences and embodied interaction as a starting point for age-appropriate tangible interaction design education.

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Cited By

Ioannou AMiliou OGeorgiou YTimotheou SBarkhuus LRode J(2024)Learning design for short-duration e-textile workshops: outcomes on knowledge and skillsEducational technology research and development10.1007/s11423-024-10411-8Online publication date: 19-Sep-2024
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-024-10411-8

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Spools and Sparks: The Role of Materiality in Computational Making with E-textiles and BBC Micro:bit

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HttF '24: Proceedings of the Halfway to the Future Symposium

October 2024

315 pages

ISBN:9798400710421

DOI:10.1145/3686169

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Published: 21 October 2024

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HTTF '24: Halfway to the Future

October 21 - 23, 2024

CA, Santa Cruz, USA

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Cited By

Ioannou AMiliou OGeorgiou YTimotheou SBarkhuus LRode J(2024)Learning design for short-duration e-textile workshops: outcomes on knowledge and skillsEducational technology research and development10.1007/s11423-024-10411-8Online publication date: 19-Sep-2024
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-024-10411-8

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