Making the abstract tangible: Interaction Design for Embodied, Situated and Playful Learning

In this talk DMLL visitor Mariano Velamazán (Seville’s School of Arts, Spain) will talk about the value of Interaction Design and participatory research methods for the creation of engaging learning experiences. Drawing from examples of some of his recent projects aimed at improving the way kids learn maths, Mariano will discuss the processes and methods underpinning the use of design approaches for playful and situated learning.

Mariano Velamazán is an interaction designer with a background in Computer Science and Visual Communication. His work involves research through design, ethnography-informed design and participatory design and he has an interest in design for playful learning (receiving Honourable Mention and awards from Red Dot, Core 77 and Science on Stage).

He works as a design teacher in Interaction Design, Web Design, Graphic Design and Scientific Fundamentals of Design at the School of Arts of Seville.

What are the benefits of attending?

The session will provide you with an overview of Interaction Design for playful learning, illustrated with examples from a number of recent project. Apart from the specific topics listed below, you will get a glimpse of how different theories and methodologies (e.g. Phenomenology, participatory design, ethnography) can help you create better learning experiences.

Topics covered

How can we improve the experience of learning math? What are the variables that affect that process? What are the best methods to work with?

We will analyse a few design-based research prototypes of increasing complexity, one of them still in progress. We will look at the goals and flaws of each of them trying to learn from the results.

• Look and move: Making math visual and tangible
• Touch, hear, observe and create: Embodied playful mathematics
• Problems and opportunities: formal vs informal learning, conflicting interests of different actors, the role of context and social interaction, the problem with the evaluation of the experiments
• Work together and do it yourself: students as (situated) learning designers. Scaffolding.

Who should attend?

Anyone interested in innovative approaches to teaching and learning, the design of research-informed learning experiences, educational games and toys, playful learning or interaction design.