A Learner-Centered Design Method for Educational Technology
Description
Since 2003, Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) has implemented projects that work directly with middle-school aged youth from underserved populations to develop digital resources aimed at encouraging young people to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and careers. It is through this work that EDC has developed an implemented a powerful, youth-centered, participatory research and design method for the design of educational technologies. This paper aims to share EDC’s learnings from developing and implementing this method including addressing issues of trust between youth and adult team members, appropriately acknowledging youth contributions, balancing the roles of mentors and adult design partners, and making dynamic curriculum adjustments based on participants learning styles and skill levels.
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