Lecture Assignments
Assignment 1
During Session 1, we did a quick post-it braindump to surface real tinkering experiences from our own lives. The instructions were simple: grab a post-it and a pen, write down one or two moments where you were really tinkering, then share with the person next to you and look for similarities.
Braindump (top post-it)
I listed a few tinkering activities that immediately came to mind:
- Messing around with Arduino’s & Rubber Duckies
- Playing guitar
- Workshop on 3D printing
- Making a (Xbox) controller
This was basically my "inventory" of situations where I tend to experiment, iterate, and learn by doing (or trying things out) that came to mind during the lecture.
Assignment 2
After that, we did a check back: we picked one tinkering experience and added an extra post-it to make the experience more explicit by identifying a goal, a seed, and the toolbox we used, and then discussed that with tablemates. This connects directly to the course idea of a "tinkering playground" with components like design goal, seed, and toolbox.
Check back (bottom post-it)
I zoomed in on one idea: "Making a (Xbox) controller." Then I made the situation more concrete using the framework:
- Design goal: Create an accessible controller for people with disabilities
- Seed: Use existing designs and research
- Toolbox: Arduino + input devices
For me, this step was helpful because it forced me to turn a broad idea into something actionable: what am I trying to achieve, what triggers the project, and what do I actually need to start tinkering? That also matches the course emphasis on making the process explicit (and visual) so I can reflect and continue.
Figure 1. The post-its of the first and second assignments.