Week One
An Introduction
Recap
This week, I threw myself into the maker mindset and methodology. I learned about human-centered design, which focuses on how I, as a producer, can come up with a product or service that actually benefits its intended user. I discovered that everyone can be creative, so long as they keep their mind and heart open to the possibilities of creativity.
3 things I learned
The three most beneficial things I learned this week were how to navigate Notion, how to think like a designer, and how to iterate.
Challenges
Some challenges I came across this week include figuring out how to open myself to creativity and trying to balance my team between my internship tasks and my schoolwork.
Wisdom
In the future, I will work more efficiently in my studies so that I can appreciate the wisdom of the videos given to me.
Next Week...
Next week, I plan to engage in 3D printing and broaden my knowledge of the RMC.
Goals
Goal one- Through this program, I hope to learn more about myself and how I contribute to a team. By learning a variety of makerspace technologies, I will expose myself to new branches of STEM I've not yet explored. This will help me decide what sort of career I might be interested in.
Goal two- Knowing how to work on a long-term project is something I am eager to learn. I typically elect short, challenging tasks to work on as opposed to projects that last several months. Developing goals and cooperating with a team to carry out our project will greatly enhance my experience as UVA student.
Goal three- From working on this team, I want to learn more about different backgrounds and experiences. I think it will also be interesting to see how we face obstacles together, whether it's a difficulty with our project or a struggle to learn the makerspace technology.
Team Roles
-As a scheduler, I excel at managing calendars and planning ahead. I can diligently plan goals for each day and have the ability to spread out my tasks.
-A role I need to work on is the Anthropologist. I know how to offer encouragement, but when it comes to inspiring ideas in my teammates, I lack ideas. I hope to work with my cohort to improve this skill.
Week Two
Teamwork
Wisdom
I would like to share that not everything will come easy at first, and it is important to keep a positive outlook. As I worked through the orientation for 3D printing, I realized that just because something is challenging doesn't mean it isn't going to be fun. There is somewhat of a learning curve with technology and that's okay.
3 things I learned...
Using an online module, I learned how to reserve a 3D printer in the RMC.
With my team, I learned how to brainstorm project ideas, discarding the bad and accepting the good.
Throughout our team meeting, I learned how to schedule things weeks in advance.
Challenges
This week, I realized that I will not learn all the makerspace technology right away. With the 3D printing, I am only touching the surface of all its possibilities. Additionally, there is so much I don't know about the process itself. Do I actually know how to slice the stl file? Will I accidentally set something on fire? I certainly hope it all goes well once I actually print.
Next week...
I will work with the MakerBot to produce my first print and I will meet with my team to further develop our community project.
Week Three
3D Printing
HERBERT <3
3 things I learned...
I learned more about expert interviews- a research method that contributes to a greater understanding of the product that we might develop. This entails searching for an expert in, in our case, computer science, and asking them questions about their field.
I learned that we work more efficiently as a group when we bounce ideas off each other. Now that we are comfortable with each other, we will say any ideas that come to mind. This allows for a free flow of ideas and for more unique developments in our project.
I learned more about augmented reality this week. I think this will be my next makerspace exploration. I don't know too much about it yet, but at least now I know of its existence.
Wisdom
- I want to share that 3D printing is incredibly fun once you get the hang of it!
- It is difficult to balance schoolwork, friends, and family, but it is all worth it in the end. Make time for yourself and your friends, but also remember to appreciate what you're learning in school.
Next Week...
- Next week I hope to begin my second makerspace challenge.
- I will continue working with my team and start planning our research and expert interviews.
Week Four
Navigating schoolwork and the residency program with a COVID diagnosis
This week I learned more about interview methods and tried to develop a mindset that learns from failure. I worked with my team to come up with more solid research plans and we laid out some questions for our potential interviewers. Unfortunately we had to conduct our team meeting on facetime because I tested positive for COVID-19. It's been a strange week, working on the residency program and trying to complete homework in isolation.
3 things I learned...
- To conduct an interview, the interviewer has to be aware of the questions asked, the manner in which they are asked, and be consistently responsive to their interviewee. It is crucial to demonstrate empathy and listen to every suggestion.
- Learning from failure means creating a mindset in which failure becomes an encouragement instead of a disappointment. Failure means your goal has "not yet" been achieved.
- There are differences between usability tests and interviews. Interviews should focus on developing a product/service that is user friendly and beneficial to the user. Usability tests focus on gaining insight after the product has been developed.
Challenge
After testing positive for COVID-19, it was hard to stay on track for school and extracurriculars. I missed several classes, two quizzes, and a handful of meetings. I had also made plans to complete another makerspace challenge this week. It was hard to have plans derailed, but in isolation I will work on a plan to get caught up next week.
Wisdom
Don't feel discouraged if something doesn't go as planned. Sometimes it's just out of our hands. Make plans to lay out homework throughout the week, be communicative with your team, and try to be patient.
Week Five
Interview Prep
This week I met with my team to edit and revise our interview questions. We made a plan to reach out to managers of facilities and have an interview in place with someone crucial to accessibility at UVA. We are excited to get to hear from experts at the university. In addition to furthering our community project, I started the VR challenge.
3 things I learned...
- Synthesis is an important part of research. This entails not only compiling information, but sharing it with your team. Sometimes this can lead to an alternate solution than additionally proposed.
- Lori Kressin is the Coordinator of Academic Accessibility at UVA. She is responsible for ensuring that all students have equal access to a superb education at the university, regardless of disabilities.
- I learned more about how to work Notion this week. Jasmine, our team leader, established a series of data bases in our workspace to keep up more organized.
Challenges
This week it was difficult to meet with my team because of midterms. We decided to meet fairly late at night to complete and adjust our interview questions. It was hard for us to stay alert because of the hour, but we persevered and it paid off.
Questions?
What makerspace technology will we be looking into for the following six weeks? What should I expect out of the rest of the program?
Wisdom
Although it can seem overwhelming to try to fit meetings into a busy schedule, remember that you love exploring makerspace technology and want to improve the community! It is easy to get caught up in the busy schedule and forget to stop and think about why you're taking classes, the residency program, and participating in extracurriculars.
Next week...
Next week I will finish either the AR challenge or the app prototyping challenge. I will interview Lori Kressin with Jasime and gain valuable insight into our problem.
Week Six
AR and Community Project Progression
This week I started, finished, and documented my augmented reality project. I was able to gain a better understanding of how to use the platform Artivive and familiarized myself with the many websites that provide free videos to use. Additionally, I interviewed Lori Kressin with Jasmine over Zoom and gained valuable insight into accessibility at UVA. I then met with my team to discuss our idea for the community project.
3 things I learned
- Students at UVA are not fully aware of the resources that the accessibility office offers. There are efforts being made to try to market these resources, but there should be more student advocacy on Grounds.
- Augmented reality looks like a simple technology, but it is vital to pick the right video and picture so that the overlay is precise.
- Prototypes don't need to be incredibly accurate; they just have to be at a place where people can provide useful feedback.
Challenges?
- AR presents somewhat of a learning curve. In order to get the video required for the project, I had to convert the file, upload it to YouTube, then import it to iMovie to add sound. Only then was I able to use the video in Artivive.
- This week we struggled a little bit with finalizing a target/problem in our community project. Once we finally realized a specific path, however, it was much easier.
Wisdom
- If you run into a problem, try to think outside the box to solve it. Sometimes the answer doesn't lie in the project you're working on, or what you've learned throughout the course, sometimes it comes from prior knowledge.
- Honing in on what problems exist helps reveal a solution. Try to narrow it down as soon as possible.
Questions?
Have we completed the user interviews/expert interviews required? What other research methods should we try before starting our prototype, if any?
Next week...
I will work with my team to produce the beginning of a prototype for our project. I will get a better understanding of what it means to develop a long-term goal.
Week 7
Spring Break Meetings
This week I traveled through North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. I explored the South with two of my best friends from college and enjoyed the warm weather. Throughout spring break, I was able to meet with my partner, Alessandra, to begin preparations for the Girl Scout Maker Camp. I trained myself for creating an AR workshop and I read about strengthening and testing a prototype.
3 things I learned...
- There are three important phases in prototyping: prototype, mini-pilot, implementation.
- Equitable teaching strategies should be employed to ensure an inclusive and affirming environment.
- In the workshop, making connections to the participants' real lives is useful to keep them engaged.
Challenges
It was hard to organize a schedule for this week. Meeting with teammates who all have different plans was difficult, but we made it work! It was also hard to brainstorm ideas for the Girl Scout Camp because I am out of touch with what middle school girls are interested in. Hopefully we will be able to design a workshop that is both fun and informative.
Questions
Is the final showcase we work on to be completed with our teams (in my case, KoalaKare), or is it to be worked on with our partners for the Girl Scout Camp?
Wisdom
Planning out a schedule in advance is useful, even during weeks like Spring Break where often times plans are sort of up in the air. Keeping a to-do list for each day, and keeping it light and spread out throughout the week, helps you to stay on track with your homework and internship tasks.
Next week...
I will develop more concrete plans for the Girl Scout Maker Camp and progress my team's prototype further. We will utilize our background research and form a prototype that is representative of our desired final product.
Week 8
Prototyping
This week I met with my partner for the Girl Scout Camp and developed more concrete plans for our workshop! We have an established AR tutorial and fun activities planned for the middle schoolers. Later in the week, I connected with my community project group and we got to work on our low-wire prototype.
3 things I learned
- I watched tutorial videos and interacted with Figma a lot this week to get a sense of how we will create our prototype using the app development software.
- I looked into different things middle schoolers are into "nowadays" to discover ways to connect our camp to their everyday lives and make it more relatable for them.
- I learned about design justice, and the importance of viewing our users as our equals and not our inferiors.
Challenges
This week it was hard to find a time to meet with my community project team, however, once we got together we were incredibly productive and I am extremely proud of the work we did this week:) It was also difficult to navigate a new program, Figma, but it was certainly fun to try.
Questions?
Do we need to start planning a presentation for the final showcase? Like a PowerPoint type of thing?
Wisdom
If you struggle learning one of the new technologies, just try and breathe through it. Also keep in mind that there are likely resources online to help you! Figma, for example, has plenty of walkthrough videos to help explain all of its features.
Next week...
My team and I will work on transferring our paper prototype into a Figma prototype. Along with my partner, I will solidify our plans for the camp and turn the plans into concrete things. We will improve upon our functionalities by asking users what they think of our design and asking for suggestions.
Week 9
Completing Our Low Fidelity Prototype
This week I met with Alessandra to work on our Girl Scout Camp activity. We completed our slideshow presentation and listened to Fang's feedback to improve our workshop. On Wednesday I met with my community project group to finish our low fidelity prototype. We made a paper version with explicit details on how the app functions as well as a generic form on Figma.
3 things I learned...
- I learned how to add multiple frames to one page on Figma. We added circles and rectangles to provide a basis for our next prototype.
- I learned how to use the Canva presentations. Alessandra and I built on the template for our workshop slideshow.
- I learned to encourage spontaneous feedback almost as much as structured questions. Users should feel comfortable providing any tips/advice they want.
Challenges
This week we had to FaceTime one of our team member's in because she was feeling incredibly sick. It was hard to keep her updated while we work and ensure that she was helping us as much as she would if she were there in person. She did a great job contributing, even from afar!
Questions?
Do we invite people to the final showcase? How formal is the showcase?
Wisdom
Figma is fairly intuitive once you get the hang of it! It combines CS and user friendly techniques to make a really helpful design tool.
Sometimes it seems like you have a lot more work than you actually do. Once you sit down and start it, it becomes much easier to get through.
Next Week...
Next week we will add to our prototype and finalize our plans for the final showcase. Alessandra and I will continue working on our workshop and begin our AR examples.
Week 10
Medium Fidelity Prototype and Girl Scout Preparation
This week I met up with Alessandra to complete our Girl Scout Camp workshop and go over our presentation. We trekked to the RMC to scope out our spaces and improved our AR prompts for the girls to work on.
3 things I learned...
1. Artivive does not work well on Microsoft Edge and we should recommend to the girls that they use Google Chrome.
2. At the RMC, you can check out iPad Pros at anytime. They are free for any student to use.
3. Templates on Figma make app prototyping a lot easier. We had to edit the color pallet and modify the layouts, but we didn't need to create entirely new frames.
Challenges
The projector in the DML was not working so Alessandra and I needed to make a plan for what to do if our technology doesn't work. We decided we would find a large desktop and have the middle schoolers circle around to view our demonstrations and presentation. Additionally, Figma can be tricky to work on with multiple users at one time. We had to delegate who would work on what frame in order to maximize our efficiency.
Questions?
Everything is progressing fairly smoothly, so this week I do not have questions!
Wisdom
App prototyping can be quite tedious, so it is necessary to keep a positive outlook and try to channel some patience. The best way to move through Figma is with the mindset that you will make mistakes.
Next week...
Next week Alessandra and I will begin to make our labels for the final showcase. My community project team and I will use the "Prototype" feature on Figma to start connecting our frames together. We should have a medium-high fidelity prototype by next week!:)
Week 11
This week I led a Middle School Maker Camp with my cohort! Later in the week I met with Fang to discuss my progress in the program so far and all that I have learned as a result of WMP. At the Middle School Maker Camp, I led a presentation regarding AR with Alessandra and taught the participants how to make their own project.
3 things I learned...
- Becoming a more creative person is a process. You have to work towards it. Most of the time the creativity is there, but doesn't come out because it is stifled in some way. Additionally, it is easier to be creative when you are working on something you're passionate about.
- Middle schoolers today are much more tech savvy than when I was in middle school. They are quite capable and our campers rose to every challenge.
- Figma Prototyping is fairly intuitive. Once the prototype is done, we will simply click run prototype and it will show us the app's capabilities!
Challenges
Artivive, while user-friendly for college students, is not as navigable for middle schoolers. There were multiple unanticipated steps in the on board process. Alessandra and I were shocked by the amount of times we had to problem solve in just a few short hours. A couple of the Macs froze, some of the students' phones wouldn't connect to WiFi, and Artivive was glitchy at first. We solved every problem that came our way, however, and felt so rewarded by the end of the day.
Questions?
When will we start working on the Design Document? Is this a lengthy process?
Wisdom
It is hard to channel patience with technology when it is only you and the device. It is even harder to practice patience when you are working with new people. Try approaching the learning curve from the student's perspective, and you will find it far more manageable to work with them.
Next week...
Next week my community project team will turn our prototype into a video that is easily viewable for the Final Showcase. I will work with Alessandra to produce AR labels for the showcase and print them out. It is all coming together!
Week 12
Wrapping up our prototype and preparing for the final showcase
This week I met with my community project group and we worked on finishing up our high fidelity prototype! It was rewarding to see it all come together. I like our color pallet as well as our little pictures on the first few screens. Tomorrow I will meet with Alessandra to print our AR labels for the final showcase.
3 things I learned...
- Figma prototyping is fairly simple once you get the hang of it. Sometimes when you're in prototype mode, you realize things that need to be changed in design mode.
- Canva posters are so fun to make! I do them just for fun sometimes. The one we made for the final showcase is easy to read and (hopefully) eye-catching.
- If we use TikTok as a means of documenting different residents' projects, it becomes much easier to turn them into AR projects.
Challenges
This week it was very hard to meet. We had planned to meet Sunday, but there were some scheduling conflicts and we had to meet late on Tuesday instead. It's been pretty busy with final projects and exams coming up, but we were glad to be able to make time. Additionally, Figma can be pretty challenging sometimes. Tutorial videos are long, especially if you're really only trying to understand once function.
Questions?
Do we need to prepare a slideshow for the community project? When Alessandra and I present for our AR middle school workshop, does that require a slideshow...? I guess I'm just confused on some of the expectations. Thanks!
Week 13
This week I met with Alessandra and my community project team to prepare for the final showcase. With Alessandra I recorded my voiceover, printed the last of our AR labels, and set up the gallery. In our meeting for the community project, we polished our app, constructed our design document, and prepared our presentation.
3 things I learned...
- Design documents have a lot of components.
- Screen recordings should be fluid and present the highlights of our app.
- The gallery at Clem is a great place to showcase student's work!
Challenges
We had to reprint one of our AR labels because the print wasn't clear enough to scan in Artivive. Additionally, with finals picking up it was hard to focus at our last meeting.
No questions for this week!
Wisdom
Put yourself out there and get to know your teammates! They provide a lot of support and are going through the program at the same rate as you. Try to open your mind to the new technology you're exposed to! It feels great to know how far you've come.
Thanks for a great semester!!:)
Credits:
Created with images by _Alicja_ - "numbers counting numbers education" • m_ming - "chalk colorful dust" • jarmoluk - "hands friendship friends" • PublicDomainPictures - "artistic bright color" • athree23 - "board chalk business" • Myriams-Fotos - "sparkler lightbulb spray candle" • mikesween - "puzzle game solution" • TheDigitalArtist - "question think help" • autumnsgoddess0 - "balloon heart love" • nastya_gepp - "the medicine mask coronavirus" • stux - "thought cloud idea" • MintBlack4u - "coronavirus disease covid-2019 coronavirus corona" • Saydung89 - "idea concept doodle" • coyot - "brushes art paint" • Monster Ztudio - "Creative thinking ideas brain innovation concept. Light bulb on yellow background" • Yingyaipumi - "think outside the box,Leadership,teamwork and courage concept.Unique red isometric paper ship and many white ones on turquoise blue sea.3D Rendering." • escapejaja - "One Pencil with word think leadership and uniqueness concept. Stand out from the crowd. Think outside the box. Dare to be different" • MarekPhotoDesign.com - "question mark on sticky note" • enterlinedesign - "Learn Vintage Letterpress Type in Drawer" • Blue Planet Studio - "E-learning and Online Education for Student and University Concept. Graphic interface showing technology of digital training course for people to do remote learning from anywhere." • vectorfusionart - "Composite image of students desk" • BullRun - "Cropped view of woman' s hands holding modern smartphone device and touching with finger on blank display with copy space area for your internet content to installing app on bokeh background" • Stillfx - "Team holding hands together" • Fahkamram - "books and light bulb on greenery background with copy space using as background education concept." • fotogestoeber - "colorful painted hands in front of a decorated wall with a flower and butterflies" • LIGHTFIELD STUDIOS - "Cropped view of multicultural friends with colorful Holi paints putting hands together"