Syllabus

This is an archived version of the 2020 course syllabus. For the most up-to-date version please visit the syllabus page on the new course site (bba.tltlab.org/syllabus)

On the week assignments are due, lecture assignments should be submitted by Monday night at 11:59pm, as we will often work with them in lecture and the teaching team needs time to read them. Lab assignments are due at the start of lab: they should be present and ready to go!
Week Lecture Lab
Week 1
Jan 22

Topics

Introduction and overview. Setting our intentions for the class. What is constructionism? (Lecture 1 slides)

Readings Due

Assignments

Out: Your Personal "Gears" Essay

Topics

Introductions, lab journals, lab norms and safety, Laser cutter, 2D Design. (Lab 1 slides)

Assignments

Out: Omni Animal
Week 2
Jan 29

Topics

Constructionism (Excerpts from Gears essays, Slides) Pencilcode

Readings Due

Assignments

Due Mon 1/27: Your Personal "Gears" Essay Out: Needfinding and problem statement

Topics

Our relationship with materials. (Processing slides) Vinyl Cutter Processing.

Assignments

Due Wed 1/29: Omni Animal Out: Upcycling
Week 3
Feb 5

Topics

Piagetian Constructivism, Vygotskyan Constructivism, Papert's synthesis of Piaget and Vygotsky

Readings Due

Assignments

Due Mon 2/3: Needfinding and problem statement Out: Praxis reflection

Topics

Computation and fabrication. GoGo Board, Woodshop,

Assignments

Due Wed 2/5: Upcycling Out: Rube Goldberg
Week 4
Feb 12

Topics

Experience and equilibration. Working with praxis reflections.

Readings Due

Assignments

Due Mon 2/10: Praxis reflection Out: 3C's

Topics

Rube Goldberg trial. Digital 3d design, CNC mill,

Assignments

Due Wed 2/12: Rube Goldberg Out: Dream Toy (Part 1)
Week 5
Feb 19

Topics

Critical Pedagogy

Readings Due

Optional

Assignments

Due Mon 2/17: 3C's (Part 1)

Topics

Debrief Dream Toy, part 1. User research, prototyping (slides) Silicone casting, Vacuum forming,

Assignments

Due: Dream Toy (Part 1) Out: Dream Toy (Part 2)
Week 6
Feb 26

Topics

Critical pedagogy, constructivism, and constructionism

Readings Due

Assignments

Due Mon 2/24: 3C's Out: Tech in the Wild (Related to the problem statement)

Topics

Interfaces, computation, digital media

Assignments

Out: Interface design
Week 7
Mar 4

Topics

Overview of Design Methodologies for Learning, Human-Centered Design and Design Thinking

Readings Due

Optional

Assignments

Topics

  • 5:00-5:30 Dream toy debrief. If families arrive, a tour of the lab is available.
  • 5:30-6:30 Present dream toys. Families and children invited! Food will be provided.

Assignments

Due Wed 3/04: Dream Toy (Part 2)
Week 8
Mar 11

Topics

Glassboxing and Blackboxing

Readings Due

Assignments

Due Mon 3/09: Tech in the wild Out: Tech critique (related to the problem statement) Out: Final

Topics

Learning analytics, MMLA, developing final project ideas. ( )

Assignments

Due Wed 3/11: Interface design
Week 9
Mar 25

Topics

Discuss final project. Cultural forms, Epistemic Forms and Games.

Readings Due

Optional

Topics

Physical computing, final project Arduino, E-Textiles.
Week 10
Apr 1

Topics

Representation, restructuration, media, literacy.

Readings Due

To use in class

Due Mon 3/30: Tech critique

Topics

Past projects demo, final project brainstorming
Week 11
Apr 8

Topics

Constructionist design of AI for learning, games for learning

Readings Due

Out: Final (Theory & lit review for paper)

Topics

AI demo, guest speaker

Assignments

Out: Project prototype Out: User testing
Week 12
Apr 15

Topics

Academic argumentation workshop; writing workshop.

Readings Due

Read two of the following papers.

Critiques

Present project prototypes to invited panels of outside experts. (Details).

Assignments

Due Wed 4/15: User testing report
Week 13
Apr 22

Topics

Design principles and maxims

Assignments

Due Wed 4/22: Literature review - list of 5 papers

Topics

Prototyping feedback and demo. Discussions on technical milestones. Due Wed 4/22: Project prototype
Week 14
Apr 29

Topics

The future of maker education

Readings Due

Due Wed 4/29: Literature review

Topics

Final project working session, technical milestones

Assignments

Due Wed 4/29: Prototype iteration
Week 15
May 6

Topics

Final presentations

Assignments

Due Wed 5/06: Final Paper
BBA Expo Public showcase of final projects.

Assignments

Due Wed 5/06: Final (Project)