Allison Druin, HCIL, University of Maryland
Mona Leigh Guha, HCIL, University of Maryland
Jerry Alan Fails, HCIL, University of Maryland
When children are given a voice in the design of technology, their viewpoints, experiences, and needs can be supported. In this course we will introduce methods in designing new technologies with and for children. Attendees will participate in hands-on activities using each method, and will experience what designing with kids can truly be like using live simulation techniques. Each technique will be given a context by presenting technologies that have been developed with that method. Attendees will leave the course having been introduced to or updated on codesign methods that can lead to the best possible new technologies for children. This course has been updated from the CHI 2008 course to include new methods, techniques, and examples.
At CHI 2008, a version of this course was taught and received the highest participant survey ratings of any CHI course. Other courses that have lead to the development of this course were presented at Interaction Design and Children 2003; International Congress on Toys, Games, and Media 2002; Participatory Design Conference 2002; CHI 1998, CHI 1995, CHI 1994, SIGGRAPH 1993, and CHI 1990.
The audience for this course requires no special background. We view design as most effective when it is interdisciplinary; therefore, we welcome and encourage attendance by industry professionals, academics, and students from a wide variety of communities (e.g., design, computer science, information studies, and psychology).
Hands-on design activities, small and whole-group discussion, short presentations with slides and video.
Allison Druin is director of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab and Associate Professor in the University of Maryland's College of Information Studies. Since 1998, she has led interdisciplinary, intergenerational research teams to create new educational technologies for children. Her work has included: developing digital libraries for children, designing technologies for families, and creating collaborative storytelling technologies for the classroom.
Allison Druin's website: http://www.umiacs.umd.edu/~allisond/
Mona Leigh Guha is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Human Development at the University of Maryland and is a graduate research assistant. Since 2002, she has worked with Dr. Druin in designing technology with and for children. Her doctoral research focuses on the cognitive and social benefits of the technology design processes for children as co-designers.
Jerry Alan Fails is a PhD candidate in the University of Maryland's Department of Computer Science, where he has been an active member of the Human-Computer Interaction Lab for the last five years while working with Dr. Druin. His primary focus of research is Human-Computer Interaction, with a current focus on technologies that support children's creativity, mobility, and collaboration.
Jerry Alan Fails' website: www.cs.umd.edu/hcil/fails/