‘Stream and Learn’: An Experiment to Reconnect Design Students with Theoretical Contents during the Pandemic

Abstract

As most GenZ and Millenial students now study at home, young people have shifted their media content consumption, with streaming platforms being among GenZ and Millenials favorites since the first lockdown. Could ‘Netflix and chill’ be turned into a creative learning activity for design students? As theoretical online learning is often associated with unliteral conference calls with no participation from students, we propose an experiment where joining an activity related to relaxation or even procrastination is the basis for a group assignment for design students. We will first address the curricular unit itself and how the pandemic ensued a new organisation around a specific assignment to motivate students on a multidisciplinary level by exhibiting their work online. We will then assess the results obtained in a satisfaction inquiry of the design students (N=70). Results show that online theoretic learning can incorporate multidisciplinary content and interactivity through existing platforms.