Improvisation and strategy: lessons learned from supporting young digital makers in a fully online makerspace club for collaborative game design

Author:

Xia Yu,Yan Shulong,Jiang Mengying

Abstract

Purpose The rapid emergency remote teaching has moved informal learning programs online including makerspaces, which has created an opportunity for harnessing the benefits of virtual makerspaces. This study reports on findings from three club designers and facilitators’ reflections on a fully virtual maker club offered in the summer of 2023. This paper aims to inform practitioners of the potential challenges and strategies to resolve various issues. Design/methodology/approach Reflective video journaling was conducted by facilitators. Videos were transcribed and analyzed for observations, learning events, challenges and strategies. Findings Findings present strategies adopted to address problems during implementation and a checklist for practitioners. The problems are associated with the learning environments, technology tools and student participation. The authors adopted in-the-moment and short-term strategies to tackle the problems and long-term strategies that bear implications for future virtual makerspaces. Practical implications This paper can provide direct guidance to practitioners in schools, libraries, museums, etc., who plan to offer informal collaborative learning for children online. It prepares practitioners for the potential challenges and equip them with concrete strategies and questions. Social implications Fully virtual makerspaces have the potential to reach a wider range of audience. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to report the reflective findings on a fully virtual makerspace club that comprehensively covers challenges and strategies before, during and after the club, which has direct implications for future offerings of such programs.

Publisher

Emerald

Reference31 articles.

1. Guidelines and tools for promoting digital equity;Information and Learning Sciences,2020

2. Beyond the individual: the regulation and negotiation of socioemotional practices across a learning ecosystem;Journal of the Learning Sciences,2023

3. Embedded design: engaging students as active participants in the learning of human-centered design practices;Computer Science Education,2020

4. Using thematic analysis in psychology;Qualitative Research in Psychology,2006

5. The effect of educational game design process on students’ creativity;Smart Learning Environments,2022

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3