Bots for Tots

As the “maker movement” continues to expand and enter formal education settings, how can we ensure this opportunity remains open and welcoming to young girls and children from underrepresented communities?

In recent years projects designed to give children experiences building computationally embedded toys, games, and clothing using high tech equipment such as 3D printers, laser cutters, conductive paints and threads, and microcontrollers have gained momentum among researchers, educators, and parents. However there is a great danger that the gender imbalance and lack of diversity found in existing high tech communities will be replicated in this emerging maker movement. Rather than focuses maker activities around perceived gender and cultural norms we aim to explore the affordances of activities and community structures that tap into alternate mental dispositions and ways of knowing to broaden participation and interest in maker activities. Drawing on literature from the feminist tradition and research around engineering service learning we explore the design and implementation of maker activities that provide opportunities for makers to connect with and help younger members of their immediate community. 

For more information and results from this work, see our recent publications!