Learning Adventures 2019 - Learning Adventures: Power(lessness) of Objects in STEM Discovery

1. Power(lessness) of objects: virtual vs. physical. What is the difference between physical and virtual educational aids in exploring the world and acquiring scientific knowledge?
2. Technology for every child. Buy it, get it working, but what next? What kind of challenges do new educational aids – robots, microcontrollers, computer programs, etc. – pose for parents, teachers, learners?
3. Intelligence of objects. How are educational aids designed, and for whom? How can the design of educational aids advance our understanding of learning itself?
4. Play, playfulness, and learning. Is learning possible without effort? What kind of promises do objects – modern toys, games, robots – make to children and adults?
5. Can we promise everything? Where are the ethical boundaries of the promises that are embedded in narratives about educational aids and toys?