Abstract
The paper outlines the outcome of an undergraduate design project that focused on user-centric design approach in designing an activity-based learning solution for upper primary students in rural Assam. The advantages of introducing games to classroom learning were studied through literature review. Ethnographic research methods were followed. Interviews were conducted amongst students, parents and teachers in rural schools in Guwahati, and insights drawn to design a set of activities that were implemented amongst identified schools. Feedback received from the initial pilot study was further incorporated into the solution and the improvised version was tested for its usability. Results obtained from the usability test were analyzed for their significance and effectiveness. In conclusion, the paper highlights the experience in design methods for the design of educational aids for learning that incorporate the principles of game-play and act as a supplement to the current system of school education.
All interviews were conducted in Hindi or Assamese, with the help of a local translator, in familiar surroundings of the participants.
In figures where applicable, P1, P2 etc. represent the participants.
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Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge the children, their parents, teachers and officials who were either subjects in our experiment, or respondents in our field research. We thank Apurva, Ashish, Tigmanshu, Satyan, Neha, Abhishek and other volunteers who helped us in the fieldwork. We also acknowledge the help of Ms. Umme Hani, Mr. Rhitupon Bora, Mr. Jyotirmay Nayak and Mr. Ratul Deka, for assisting with the translation into Assamese language. We thank our guide and mentor, Professor Ravi Mokashi Punekar, who has been a source of inspiration for us throughout this study.
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Ashraf, A.S., Padhi, A., Punekar, R.M. (2015). Investigation of Key Principles of Game-Play and Their Abstraction to Enhance Learning in Rural Children. In: Chakrabarti, A. (eds) ICoRD’15 – Research into Design Across Boundaries Volume 1. Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies, vol 34. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2232-3_57
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2232-3_57
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