Designerds! : television as a tool for design education and a medium for problem-based learning

Abstract

Many individuals have limited knowledge of engineering. As a result, high school students are often unaware of opportunities in engineering professions. Designerds! is a television show pilot targeted toward a young audiences that provides an introduction to product design. The pilot documents product development by engaging MIT graduate students in a collaborative, real world design challenge. The semester-long project followed the progress of two groups of MIT graduate students as they developed concepts for new musical instruments. Participants worked together to bring their instrument from the initial brainstorming stage through prototype production. The Designerds! program aspires to simultaneously educate groups of graduate students by facilitating Problem-Based Learning and to inform youth about product design through television media. The goal was to demonstrate the emerging educational opportunities provided by the entertainment industry. Furthermore, the project was intended to foster a collaborative design environment in which MIT graduate students work cooperatively on a design project, building teamwork, and leadership skills. The project successfully demonstrated the media's potential for teaching skills for product development and promoting the engineering profession. However, uneven commitment from the graduate student participants and limited access to human and material resources precluded successful organization of a cooperative learning environment. The success of future projects is dependent upon proper institute support and improved commitment from participants.