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At KidsTeam adults partner with children to design new technology for children.
Children are
equal stakeholders throughout the
design process.
KidsTeam values
the long-term relationship between adult and child.Â
The age group we work with is 7 to 11. In KidsTeam, children are our design partners which differs from being testers (children test prototypes of technology) or informants (children inform new technology). The team asks for a long-term partnership between its adult
and child team members.
As KidsTeam values a long term relationship between the adult and child we meet every twice a week at KidsTeam UW during the school period. During the summer, we have one full week of KidsTeam where the team works on multiple projects.
KidsTeam uses
different design techniques.
Stickies
Children evaluate designs
by providing critique in the form of likes, dislikes, and design ideas on sticky notes.Â
Children are given a scenario and are asked to evaluate
it by moving to a position on line marked yes, no, or maybe.Â
Bags of Stuff
Line Judging
Children receive bags filled with a mixture of materials that they can use to build and prototype different ideas.
Skits
Children write and act out a story about a design problem or solution they wish to present.
Children are given a either or scenario and asked for their opinion. Then, they are asked to share why they chose that answer.
Comic Boarding
Would You Rather
Children are given a design problem and make 3-4 panels showing how to solve the problem.
There are different categories of KidsTeam at UW.
Each different category of KidsTeam has completed a large amount of projects. These different teams at UW have partnered with a wide-range of corporations, faculty members, and students.
KidsTeam at the University of Washington works with kids aged 7-11 years old. KidsTeamUW meets every Tuesday and Thursday during the school year, and holds a week-long session during the summer. Each week KidsTeam will partner with different corporations and organizations, and students and faculty will hold their own research sessions with KidsTeam.
KidsTeam Libraries was created as a way to explore technology usage in the library space and give kids in different communities the opportunity to be design partners. The group started working mainly at Seattle Public Library branches and has now expanded to include rural libraries in locations like Whitman and Stevens county. Technology projects vary by year and the specific learning goals of each library.
The Tween Teen Tech Team is a version of KidsTeam designed for kids aged 11-14 and 14-17 years old. Tweens and teens work as design partners to create new technology for adolescents and their families. The team is made up of kids based in both Washington and California.
In KidsTeam Families, we partner with parents and children in the design process which is important for producing technologies that take into consideration the rich relationships and dynamics present in family life.
KidsTeam UW is part of a larger network of KidsTeam groups.
The first KidsTeam was created at
the University of Maryland.Â
The method used in KidsTeam is called Cooperative Inquiry. This is a method Jason Yip learnt from Allison Druin during his time at Maryland. The very first KidsTeam was created at the University of Maryland led by Dr. Allison Druin. Read more about Maryland's KidsTeam.
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Other KidsTeam locations include
Boise State University with Dr. Jerry Alan Fails
University of Baltimore with Dr. Greg Walsh
University of Iowa with Dr. Juan Pablo Hourcade
University of Maryland with Dr. Elizabeth Bonsignore
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