Master’s Project Review Produced by: Tacy Trowbridge Reviewed by: Josie Chou Nancy Daniels Nicole Reynolds Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds Summary of project Digital Voices is a web based program designed to help chronically ill children and their siblings express themselves in multiple art forms while developing communication and technology skills Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds Learning problem Identification of learning problem Children have an immediate need to communicate about complex and difficult issues. Issues Children need to advocate for themselves and ask questions about their medical care Children may feel isolation while in the hospital or home-bound with chronic illness Troubles establishing social connections Difficulties for school staff/hospital staff and adults/parents to anticipate needs. Goals Primary: develop better self-expression and communication skills Secondary: build technology skills and knowledge Develop artistic expression and enhance creativity Normalized childhood experiences Opportunity to develop social skills Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds User description Middle school children ages 10-13 years Children with chronic or long term illnesses Most of these children are house-bound or in long-term hospital stays Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds Scenario of use Amy’s story Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds Conceptual framework Multimedia utilized as an effective tool for creative expression and communication Community based environment (situative) for learning about technology and providing new methods of communication Dewey’s philosophy of child centered learning: learning is active and dynamic rather than passive or static Duckworth’s idea of placing children in an environment where they develop understanding also informs the central objectives of the curriculum Gardner’s work on multiple intelligences informs the ideology of the curriculum (mediums for self-expression are intentionally varied to acknowledge different abilities). Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds Design process Four factors informed the design Need to promote children’s self-expresion and assertiveness Need to support children transitioning to regular school environment Constraints of hospital programming Results of STARBRIGHT research Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds Design Process Defining and researching the learning problem Design rationale Initial design Iterative designing Final prototype Assessment Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Evolution : what changed? From: To: Format: Online zine with an editor Collection of connected web galleries Audience: Children in hospitals Children with chronic illnesses Direction: Hospital facilitator Largely self-directed and motivated with opportunities for direction by a faciliator  Technology: Technology-rich hospital setting Range of possibilities starting with a computer with Internet access Location/Access: Hospital, through facilitator Flexible, anytime   Workspace: Hospital server or computer Web notebook  Management: Hospital site Digital Voices   Interaction: Guestbook Individual responses Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Evolution: what remained? Goal: Enhance self-expression and communication through technology Audience: Children needing health care Form of expression:  Multimedia: written word, voices, art, music, movies Focus:  Child-centered Learning style:  Exploration and discovery Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Features and functionality Centralized community for children Teaching of new technology through modeling between students (artwork/music/poetry/video) Provides gallery space and forum for children to display and teach about their creations Socialization environment for children who are alone Building connections between home and other community groups (children’s groups Influence transition between being ill and at home and then having to go back out into the social environment Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds Design studies Digital Voices carries out a number of design studies to prepare for the prototype. Interviews with doctors, a Child Life specialist, teachers, volunteers and children Observations at a local children's hospital Literature reviews on mental problems that the chronically ill children face and application of art therapy, and play therapy Researches on the existing programs like STARBRIGHT and other web sources Study the technology effects from social proof, intrinsic motivation, and reciprocation perspectives Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Strengths of the design Safe and accepting environment for children Tailored to situation and environment that fit the user profile but was accommodating and flexible Innovative, thoughtful and well researched and planned Involves important members of the child’s community (parents, siblings, doctors, teachers, etc) Creative, respectful and sensitive Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds Weaknesses of design Somewhat isolating – community aspects need improvement through more interactive means. Are we able to test whether or not the experiences of these children are ‘normalized’ – children may try to avoid social settings where they still feel ‘different’ – may have trouble separating from this environment into external environments. Children with illnesses restricted to resources (expensive medical treatments, etc, which prevent them from allocating money to computer systems, etc Graphics don’t really reflect sensitivity and thoughtfulness – they are harsh and rather unfriendly colors. Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds

Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds Next Steps Improve community aspects by engaging children through more interactive means (video conferencing between patients) or bringing children in the hospitals to engage together. Study results of children who have gone back out into normal society and report on their social experiences. Determine if this project is actually ‘normalizing’ for the children. Determine how many children have access to these resources – those who don’t should have networks within the hospitals. Redefine the site design to make for a child-friendly environment. Stanford University Education Department LDT Program Ed 229a Josie Chou, Nancy Daniels, Nicole Reynolds