ALIENS - A TEACHING AID
PROBLEM
Because of the challenging math curriculum taught in Pelita Harapan Kindergarten, most students find it difficult to understand concepts that are being taught. To maximize teaching effectiveness, there is a need for effective, safe and durable toys/teaching aids that accommodate children’s needs.
DESIGN STATEMENT
To design, plan, create and test an educational toy/teaching aid for young children in K2 to Grade 1. My product will serve as a tool to help develop a child's mathematical abilities in accordance to their grade level. The toy should be easy to use and visually appealing to interest children, teachers and parents, providing an enjoyable learning experience.
USER RESEARCH
To understand the needs and concerns regarding mathematical education for kindergarten students, I decided to focus on interviewing Kindergarten teachers who teach kindergarten students on a daily basis, and are therefore familiar with the preferences and challenges faced by my target users.
Examples of interview questions:
- What kind math-related material do children learn at this age group (K2 to Grade 1)?
- In your experience, what makes a toy appealing for children?
- What are common challenges children face when learning about numbers?
- What mathematical concepts would children be able to grasp most effectively with the use of a toy/teaching aid?
- What makes a teaching aid effective to use for both teachers and students of that age group?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
After interviewing 7 teachers, I concluded a desire for interactive, simple (a child is able to instantly understand how to play with the toy without someone teaching them how) visual aids in teaching numbers (simple addition, subtraction), patterns, shapes and time.
DESIGN CRITERION
- Visually attractive, brightly colored
- Is safe enough for children, has no potentially dangerous sharp edges
- Has appropriate size and weight for a toddler to carry and use
- Involves hands-on activities - includes pieces that can be matched or moved around
PROTOTYPING: MEDIUM FIDELITY PROTOTYPE (using Google SketchUp)
HIGH FIDELITY PROTOTYPING
