We live in an age when children are digital natives weaned on computers at birth. Their fingers pinch glass and eyes are fixed on a focal point inches away from brightly lit screens. Most screen based EdTech applications neglect the century or more of pedagogical practices and education research that emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning for a learner’s growth and development.
CONSTRUKTS supports learning through a framework of Building, Sense-making, and Synthesis. Building is making physical artifacts and prototypes. Sense-making asks the learner to probe deeper by exploring scaffolded STEM. Synthesis is the ability of the learner to integrate ideas and newly garnered insights into more reflective, efficient, and aesthetic solutions. This framework for constructive learning converges the physical, virtual, and computational worlds for creative problem solving, spatial thinking, and fine motor skills.
Learner Scenario: Anthony is in 8th grade and finds that it is hard to learn geometry on graph paper. However, he loves to build imaginative worlds with physical blocks like LEGO. His Art and Math teachers collaborate on STEAM projects. They use the CONSTRUKTS mixed-reality platform to improve learning in one discipline with strengths from another discipline. Now Anthony can learn how math is essential to the worlds of the imagination.
CONSTRUKTS has been funded by the National Science Foundation CONSTRUKTS was a Microsoft HoloLens® for Academic Research finalist, Grace Hopper Celebration PitcHER finalist, and participated in the PCH International Highway1.io Hardware Start-up Incubator. CONSTRUKTS has partnered with Wolfram Research, Daedalus Product Design, and San Juan Software. Our funding and partnerships have supported two rounds of functional and international demonstrations at start-up and academic forums.
We are planning for our pilot launch to gain insight from early customers about our product including user interface and user experience, learning modules, and technical alignment to the unique learning environments of our customers.
Contact: Pamela L. Jennings, Ph.D., pamela.jennings@construkts.com
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