After plenty of experimentation for the perfect logo, I have decided to settle on the one shown below. The research of doodling as a design really inspired me and I have decided to continue down that route. Therefore, in order to provide some product branding, if all my design elements consist of similar colour schemes and approaches to space, then they will become more appealing to my audience demographic.

The final logo is quite minimalistic, however includes little doodles. I used to spend time in school turning letters in text books into different shapes etc because they were a visual aid already provided. Therefore, I thought playing on the letters and including elements of space was appropriate.

COLOUR SCHEME:

I have decided to use primary colours throughout this project. This is because they are very easy to distinguish between, they are very familiar to my age demographic and they are usually colours already found in school art and craft tools. All the poster paints we had in school were never low on these colours, especially as mixing them would result in making another colour included anyway. I love how bright and eye-catching they are. They aren’t something that follows a colour scheme trend, or colours that might potentially make a difference in the realms of design, they also don’t particularly match. However, they are appropriate to both my subject area, and my audience demographic that i’m trying to appeal to most. I believe sticking with these colours, on a white back ground will give them the justification they deserve, as they will pop and stand out to those about to interact with the product.

Usually when one thinks about space, you have all these dark blues and purples, that represent night time etc. However, I would like to add a modern twist to the way we see space.  It might be easier to learn and interact with, if we detach it from real space itself. One can become overwhelmed by the knowledge and power than run alongside physics, and sometimes it is difficult to wrap your head around things. Therefore, if the learning aids are more visually appealing, they will enhance the experience and potentially encourage children to want to learn more.

 

For the website I intend to create, as the digital instruction manual, I have decided to incorporate Webgl as a basis for animating and texturing the planets. After my tutorial with James on Monday, we spoke through my idea in more detail and discovered that in order to reach out to my target audience efficiently, I need to avoid plug-ins.

Since wanting to create a workshop experience for young children in primary school, it would be more effective if this digital experience was accessible without having to download a particular software or plug-in.  My intended audience of primary schools (buying the kit to accompany science lessons etc) will be more inclined to take part in the workshop, if they have less to pay for and less to access, as a means of the workshop taking place effectively.

I haven’t overly used Webgl before, so i’m spending this evening watching tutorials on the basic stages. http://learningwebgl.com/blog/?page_id=1217 has many different videos that you can progress through, and improve upon already inherited knowledge in the area. I intend to finalise on my designs and then begin the build of this website next week sometime. I want to complete each stage of this project thoroughly before progressing onto the next step, in order for things to work more fluidly. However, due to continuing the research of this, right the way through, there will always be space and inspiration for things to take a new turn.

I have created several small flow charts, that will enable myself and my audience to gain a better understanding with regard to how each subject area, can relate to my product. These are drafts and could potentially change, and they are subject to following the route of ‘Digital Instruction Manual’, as I am more inclined towards that particular idea. This is because I want to almost create a type of workshop atmosphere. I loved the littleBits session, as did many of my class members, therefore I think it would be an important way to enable young children to enjoy themselves and socialize, whilst learning.

Below are links to each flow chart, explaining what it is that links them and how this is related back to my initial ideas.

SC5/4.1D

Sc5/4.1a

AR2/1.1

AR2/1.2

MA3/3.2a

MA3/3.1a

CO2/1.6

CO2/1.7

DT2/1.4a

DT2/1.4b

DT2/1.4c

Today we had the awesome opportunity of working with LittleBits, during  a workshop with Mark Lochrie. At the beginning of the workshop, he gave an introductory lecture about telling stories through technology. I went along in the hopes of gaining more inspiration for my project this semester, and although the overall topic focus wasn’t proceeding along the path I want to go down, it was still very useful.

“LittleBits are easy-to-use electronic building blocks that empower students to both understand and reinvent their world. Along the way, they engage in powerful hands-on learning in STEM/STEAM and gain 21st-century skills and mindsets.” – www.littleBits.com

My focus area is to encourage the use of creativity within technology and I intend to begin my research phase by looking into the STEM education system. STEAM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines – science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.  All aspects of STEAM are vital when influencing imagination and I want to consider every element in detail, in order to provide an enjoyable and educational learning experience, for young children.

Since discovering what particular areas I want to cover/include, I can now begin researching different stages of child development, in order to pin point my chosen audience demographic.  It is important to allow myself a solid understanding of where my idea can be utilised properly and efficiently and therefore, discovering which age group of children to work with, depending on their development progress, needs to be explored thoroughly.

Overall, the workshop today was fantastic! I learnt, I engineered and I used my imagination, all through accessing technology. I am feeling inspired and encouraged to create something influential and effective.

Throughout this project, I want to focus on creating something that will strengthen the relationship between education and technology. Technology is advancing at such a speed, that younger generations can’t help but be immersed in it, one way or another. Therefore, the impact of technology on education is one that is both unavoidable, yet has potential to be incredibly momentous.

I believe that the way the current media, advertise and encourage young children to engage with technology, is at fault. A child’s development is crucial and elements of imagination and creativity need to be utilized frequently, in order for children to inherit the best possible outcome, during the early stages of their life. Spending copious amounts of time in front of an iPad isn’t healthy.

It is easy to come across as a hypocrite, when explaining that technology is potentially brainwashing younger generations and they should spend more times outdoors, playing with sticks and making mud pies.  However, in moderation and used in the appropriate way, technology can teach a magnitude of things, it can stimulate an active imagination and provide seamless amounts of fun.

In conclusion, I am currently in the research phase of deciding what I want to create, how and why. However, I am certain of following a route that allows digital media it’s rightful place within society, without being deemed dangerous and/or brainwashing, but a pedagogy.