Abstract
INTRODUCTION: IoT will transform our future in unimaginable ways. The necessity for young people to understand and design with IoT seems unequivocal but there is currently limited integration in K-12 education. OBJECTIVES: To investigate these gaps in research and practice, this study aimed to explore the design processes and understandings of IoT that emerge when youth design an IoT passion project within a constructionist context. METHODS: A mixed methods multiple case study design was employed, analyzing questionnaires, interviews, recordings, and participant artifacts. RESULTS: Factors contributing to a successful design included guided inquiry, detailed plans, access to support, and perseverance. Participants also experienced gains in IoT skills and knowledge. CONCLUSION: Design and making with IoT through passion-based, guided inquiry appeared to facilitate the development of valuable knowledge and skills. Further research is needed to explore implementations in formal education.
Highlights
Internet of Things (IoT) will transform our future in unimaginable ways
Anisha & Derick’s home security system Anisha† and Derick formed an organic partnership; as cousins, they had a pre-established level of comfort and rapport that informed their decision to work together on a collective passion project
This study explored the impact of a five-day learning microcycle, in the form of a constructionist March break camp, on participants’ natural, informal design processes and their understanding of IoT
Summary
The necessity for young people to understand and design with IoT seems unequivocal but there is currently limited integration in K-12 education. CONCLUSION: Design and making with IoT through passion-based, guided inquiry appeared to facilitate the development of valuable knowledge and skills. The advantages of IoT include the ability to analyze real-time and varied data to better understand the world around us, enabling more efficient and autonomous problem-solving and interactions. Recent estimates have identified over 20 billion smart objects currently in use [2], including cars, watches, toys, appliances, and even humans, that are all connected through IoT. Considering worldwide connections through IoT are projected to surpass 50 billion by the end of 2020 [4], we need to be cognizant of all the ramifications associated with interconnected smart infrastructures and devices
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