Lisa Tolentino

SMALLab: a mixed-reality environment for embodied and mediated learning

In this video presentation, we introduce the Situated Multimedia Arts Learning Lab [SMALLab], a mixed-reality learning environment that supports interactive engagement through full body 3D movements and gestures within a collaborative, computationally mediated space. The video begins by describing the holistic approach to embodied and mediated learning developed by our transdisciplinary research team, grounded in understandings derived from research in the learning sciences, digital media and human computer interaction. We then outline the three core tenets of effective learning exemplified by our research -- embodiment, multimodality and collaboration. The video next demonstrates the design and functionality of the physical and digital components of SMALLab. We conclude by illustrating our partner collaborations with K12 teachers and students with four scenarios depicting Geography, Physics, Language Arts and Chemistry learning modules.

Applying game design principles to social skills learning for students in special education

Growing evidence suggests that games can be a highly effective and motivating framework for learning. Digital games are increasingly prevalent in todays classrooms, and game-based learning is emerging as a successful means of reaching students who often struggle to succeed through more traditional approaches. For example, students with autism face a unique set of challenges and goals in the context of classroom learning. Principles of well-designed games offer a powerful framework for designing new types of learning experiences for students with autism. Moreover, recent innovations in computing interfaces have also lead to new forms of socio-collaborative experiences with digital media. This article introduces our recent case study in applying game-based learning in Special Education. We will present the learning scenario goals and implementation, focusing on how this work successfully applied well-designed game principles to this context. We briefly describe our evaluation methodology and preliminary results.

Radio healer

In this paper we discuss our performance titled Radio Healer. This performance reflects upon the indigenous cultural implications of consumer technologies such as the Internet, mobile handheld devices, and personal computers, and how this relates to the effects of these technologies upon the lived experiences of all people. Radio Healer achieves this through the tactical appropriation and adaptive reuse of consumer technologies by indigenous peoples, along with the expression of indigenous media through sustainable cross-cultural partnerships between peoples of diverse backgrounds. The motivation of our collaborative work is to appropriate and express electronic technology in order to recognize the sovereign rights of indigenous peoples.

Sharing the squid: tangible workplace collaboration

Effective communication is central in building trust and negotiating differences in diverse, multidisciplinary working environments. In this paper we discuss a tangible mediated environment designed to facilitate positive social interaction between colleagues in a research workplace. Through our multi-user tangible interface in the form of a plush squid, participants can share media resources and collaborate in a playful and inviting setting. Results from preliminary studies indicate that playful mediated work environments stimulate constructive discourse, strengthen social bonds, and enhance creative output.

HandJabber: an enactive framework for collaborative creative expression

HandJabber is a movement-based interactive sound installation and research environment for exploring collaborative creative expression. HandJabber utilizes the emergence of semantic meanings from gesture and interpersonal behavior as a single interface for music performance by responding to an individual participants hand and arm gestures, and reacting to the non-verbal interpersonal behavior between two participants. Within this context, we explore three major areas of non-verbal behavior, (a) metaphoric hand and arm gesture, (b) interpersonal space, and (c) body orientation. Our poster presents results from informal user and case studies.

Creativity interventions: physical-digital activities for promoting group creativity

Arizona State Universitys Arts, Media, and Engineering Program is currently addressing the need to assess the growth of group creativity in trans-disciplinary collaboration. This paper describes our initial work in developing criteria and a framework for constructing creativity interventions, or activities designed for building, tracking and evaluating creative group behaviors in diverse communities of IT practitioners.