SportSense
Recent estimates suggest that 70% of youth participate in sports, whereas fewer than 20% participate in out-of-school STEM experiences. SportSense imagines how unlocking new curiosities within athletes could transform the landscape of STEM learning, both in terms of who participates and types of innovations that emerge. In partnership with local organizations, we create learning environments where youth are introduced to ways that technology can help them improve their athletic performance, and ways that sports can improve their understanding of STEM concepts.
Blinc
This team works on developing data-capture devices that provide educators with real-time multimodal learning analytics. We use ReSpeaker Core v2.0 microphone arrays to show educators what keywords have been said, a discussion timeline, direction of speech, and emotional tone indicators. We are also working to incorporate body pose estimation into our analyses. We have tested our devices in multiple classrooms and are continuing development and testing in the coming months.
SportSense for Data Literacy
SportSense for Data Literacy is an 8 week sports and data curriculum for fifth-grade students. The intention of this curriculum is to support students in learning and practicing data processes via their personal physical movement. The overarching framework used throughout the curriculum was a four-stage data process that was introduced to students at the start of the unit. Lessons use the Play Impossible Gameball, micro:bit, and Scratch. Below you can find the lesson plans and materials for each week.
Global Aid Refugees (GAR)
World Relief Chicago's Youth Programs and tiilt having been engaged through a research-practice partnership since 2018 to codesign with facilitators and youth in their out-of-school program. We support facilitators with training in culturally sustaining pedagogy and social emotional learning as well as meaningful hands-on making activities with students. Previous activities include making games and creating tactile picture books using low/high tech fabrication tools and materials. This RPP is like an amoeba: shifting and adapting in response to emergent needs and interests. Therefore, fluidity and flexibility are highly valued alongside intentional shifts in design and pedagogy that center youth interests, ideas, and voices (with grown-ups playing an important role, too!) This work is nourished and sustained through relationships, critical pedagogies of care, expansive and nuanced understandings of culture and identity, inclusive and equitable approaches to STEM learning, and, as the students remind us: FUN.