Children as designers and manufacturers of an operational DIY push-button

• Published in: Procedia, social and behavioral sciences social and behavioral sciences, 2011, Vol.12, p.175-184
• Main Authors: Korhonen, Pekka, Kärnä, Eija, Pihlainen-Bednarik, Kaisa, Vellonen, Virpi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: action research; Children with special needs; design research; empowerment; participation; technology design development
• ISSN: 1877-0428; 1877-0428
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.02.025

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the results of children's and teacher's experiences and feedback on DIY push-button workshops. The implementation of the workshops was based on the ideas of participatory design. An objective of the workshop was to make a working biased membrane switch from cheap and easily modifiable common materials. Participants of the pilot workshop were 11 children with special needs. The participants of the actual workshop were 69 children and 6 teachers. The data were collected by using videotaping, observations, and questionnaires. The results indicate that children can and like to participate in design and manufacturing of technology if they have an opportunity to do so. In addition the design of the push-buttons varied a great deal and the children's creativity in design of technology could be utilized more for making more adaptable and user-friendly technology. A special attention should be placed on the working arrangements, materials used, and guidance given to children when designing and manufacturing push-buttons with children with special needs. From the teacher's point of view making a push-button at school after the workshop would be very easy, interesting and likely since the materials were so easy to get.