NSF Awards: 1433724
2016 (see original presentation & discussion)
Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12
This video documents a new approach to partnership between an informal STEAM learning environment (FUSE) and an industry partner (Christopher Duquet Fine Jewelry). FUSE is an interest-driven learning experience that engages pre-teens and teens in science, technology, engineering, arts/design and mathematics (STEAM) topics while fostering the development of important 21st century skills.
FUSE’s partnership with Christopher Duquet, along with partnerships with other industry professionals, is designed to introduce young people to industry-linked challenges that broaden their perspectives about what counts as STEAM and provide them more clearly marked pathways toward deepening interest, progressing expertise, and exposure to possible career trajectories in STEM and STEAM. For more information please visit us at www.fusestudio.net.
Arthur Camins
Director
Wow! Learning about design concepts working with a professional jewelry maker! What are you learning about the differences between “making” and “informed design?”
Thanks,
Arthur
Kemi Jona
Director, Office of STEM Education Partnerships; Research Professor, Learning Sciences and Computer Science
The most productive aspect of the jewelry design challenge is in designing a piece that “fits” an actual human wrist or earlobe. It also involves understanding and accommodating the limits of the 3D printer. These are implicit learnings that students pick up simply by trying the challenge and iterating on their designs until they are satisfied with the resulting artifact.
Elissa Milto
Director of Outreach
This is great! I love the connection to the community and to students’ interests. I’d love to hear more about the other activities that are happening in the FUSE studio and the surrounding science and engineering concepts.
Thanks,
Elissa
Kemi Jona
Director, Office of STEM Education Partnerships; Research Professor, Learning Sciences and Computer Science
Thanks for your interest! The best way to learn about our other activities is at our website, www.fusestudio.net or send an inquiry to info@fusestudio.net. We are currently running FUSE at over 60 schools and libraries across the country and in a couple international locations.
Sarah-Kay McDonald
Principal Research Scientist
Thanks for providing this insight into FUSE! I’d be very interested in learning more about the project’s research agenda, and what you’ve found (and/or are exploring) about the short- and long-term effects of participating in FUSE on students’ STEAM interests, pursuits, and learning outcomes. Thanks!
Kemi Jona
Director, Office of STEM Education Partnerships; Research Professor, Learning Sciences and Computer Science
You can get an overview of our research and design goals here: https://www.fusestudio.net/program-design
We have some conference papers describing some aspects of our findings here: https://www.isls.org/cscl2015/papers/MC-0321-Fu... and here: https://www.isls.org/icls/2014/downloads/ICLS%2... (search for “FUSE”). There is also a couple papers in the 2016 AERA proceedings and there will be a symposium on FUSE at the 2016 ICLS conference.
Sarah-Kay McDonald
Principal Research Scientist
Thanks, Kemi! I’m looking forward to digging in to these… Best, Sarah-Kay
Arthur Camins
Director
The concept of design and redesign is very important. What have you learned about how to engage students in “informed design?”
Kemi Jona
Director, Office of STEM Education Partnerships; Research Professor, Learning Sciences and Computer Science
Perhaps if you provided your definition of informed design and how it differs from the more general process of design and design thinking I could better respond to your question.
Arthur Camins
Director
I was trying to get at the idea that we should encourage students to make systematic use of evidence to inform their design iterations in relationship to the the criteria and constraints that frame the problem they intend to solve. Hope that helps. It might be contrasted with tinkering or trail and error.
Teresa Eastburn
Hi Kemi! No surprise that you’re involved in a creative and innovative program like FUSE. I met you at Internet2 K-12 at NCAR a few years back and I’ve been following your virtual lab work ever since. What a creative way to get young students, esp. young women, into making and designing. Good luck with your project! And let us know if you are ever out in Boulder. We obviously need to see what new innovations you are up to!
Further posting is closed as the event has ended.