(Review Panel: Kalpana, Kumkum and Raghu)
Review Meeting 1: 13.07.2010
•Defining the target audience
•Research Questions: Articulate questions to base the research interviews on, and to establish the scope of the project. (Interviewing teachers, students and parents)
•Visit different schools and study their curriculum (ICSE, CBSE, Open schools) for the target age group. Enquire about other methods of teaching. Study the difference and similarities in their approach to mathematics.
•Study the work that has already been done in this area- What worked and why? What elements can I incorporate in my project, and how can I make it different from what already exists?
•Research, Analyse and Document
•Working towards a multilayered information structure
•Time management- Planning the next 3 months, building a realistic timeline, keeping the output in mind.
Review Meeting 2: 27.07.2010
• Discussing the research done in the past 2 weeks
• From the TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson, “Do schools kill creativity?”: Kids learn best by exploring, experiencing, and teaching themselves- through play. Designing something that helps children learn without being “instructional” or “tutorial” in nature.
• ‘Communicating’, rather than didactic teaching
• Study Vedic Mathematics techniques-The concept of the abacus, how it is used for complex calculations.
• Visit the Maths Mela (Organized by Prithvi Theatre in Mumbai): An event which will be hosted across schools to promote ideas and concepts of mathematics in today’s world ranging from Labs, Games, 3-D animation to live performances.
• Talk to people conducting the workshops at the Math Mela, observe how the children engage with mathematics, techniques that work better than the others.
• The interviews I conducted with students from different education boards pointed to the fact that not too many students (especially from the State Board) are aware of the application of mathematics in the world around them. This could help me add layers to what I am designing, in terms of the additional information I could provide the children with.
• CONSOLIDATE and ANALYZE research- Make a presentation by August 10th (10 slides)
• After August 10th: Keep noting down any ideas in terms of form- Narrow down on one concept, yet keeping the scope for expansion as broad as possible. (Designing a system/structure which could be used to demonstrate a range of concepts)
Review Meeting 3: 17.08.2010
I presented a compilation of all my research and analysis, and how that led to some directions in terms of form. We then discussed two of my ideas for game/application (Augmented reality to make interactive building blocks)
• Why augmented reality? What if it is a multi-touch screen application? Or the blocks in themselves are interactive?
• Since there is play involved, decide upon the space allotted, and how that will fit within the augmented reality technology- Whether there is a computer, or a projector, and how that will work.
• Think about plots within scenarios. Look at the maximum permutations and combinations of things that can happen within the game- Segregate, and then add complexity.
• Talk to someone who can help with the technology, find out what is possible and how you need to go about it.
• Discuss the idea with a math teacher, so that you are aware of the scalability of the project. For example, If there are 5 blocks per set/scenario, as per the Std. 5 curriculum, how many more would the person have to buy if the child is in Std. 7? Figure out the system. After that, you can work on one set/scenario, but you must be aware of the bigger picture.
• Start storyboarding, visualize one plot with all the elements.
Review Meeting 4: 02.09.2010
I presented my process of coming up with my concept for the game/application, and also told them about the feedback given by Avy and Victor.
• Next steps: Characterization- The types of characters that children of that age relate too- Weird, Bizarre, Cute.
• Basic animation
• Start working with technology. Figure out the basic code, start experimenting with augmented reality.
• The blocks should be attractive in themselves, that is, it cannot just be made of the black and white A.R markers. I need to figure out a way to include the markers within the illustrations.
• Finish project by 1st October. Keep 1 or 2 weeks for testing, and fixing errors.
