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Research

Arpita B's Research Group Archive

The following research group descriptions are archived because they are no longer offered, the researcher is on sabbatical, or the group is taking a break. Please contact the researcher or an advisor to learn more about these groups.


Spring 2024

HCDE K-12 Outreach Workshops

In Spring 2024, HCDE K-12 outreach DRG team’s main activities will be to organize and execute projects for: 

  1. Engineering Discovery Days (May 2 and 3, 9 am to 1 pm): We will work on designing project exhibits with hands-on activities that 4-8th graders can engage with during their visit. If you are interested in working on an exhibit for discovery days, this DRG is a great opportunity to find teammates, dedicated work time, and mentorship. Please see information for exhibitors here
  2. Conducting 1-2 design workshops in K-12 schools in the Seattle area (scheduled based on the team's availability). 

Outreach DRG student teams will help develop the project, curricula, and materials for engineering discovery days and design workshops, rehearse, and then lead the work. 

In a dub talk (July 5, 2017), “Filling the Pipeline: Design & Engineering Workshops for K-12 Outreach,” Emeritus Professor Andy Davidson summarized the various HCDE outreach efforts. We recommend that you watch the video.

Who can apply? We are looking for enthusiastic students at all levels (BS, MS, PhD) who are passionate about leading STEM activities with K-12 students and are able to consistently show up for in-person teamwork and on-site events.

  • Eligible students should be familiar with the user centered design process, and have already taken HCDE 210, 318, or 518. 
  • Experience working with, teaching, or mentoring K-12 students is helpful for this work.

Time expectations & credits

  • The DRG will meet for 90 minutes per week starting in the week of March 25, 2024. Schedule TBD based on selected students’ availability. 
  • All participants are expected to attend all meetings and register for 2 credits. 
  • Participants are required to be available for at least some parts of May 2 and 3, 9 am to 1 pm for Engineering Discovery Days (we will work around your class schedule).
  • You will be expected to use some time outside these meetings to lead the workshop in 1-2 schools depending on the team members’ schedule.

Winter 2024

STEM Outreach: Alternative Spring Break

HCDE is collaborating with UW's Riverways Education Program for STEM Alternative Spring Break 2024 (details here). We are recruiting a team of 4-5 HCDE students to lead a STEM outreach workshop in Neah Bay High School during Spring break from March 17- March 22.

The team is expected to:

  • Attend a preparatory seminar in Winter 2024 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:30-5:50 pm. The learning goals of this seminar include culturally responsive teaching and universal design for learning (poster on the curriculum).
  • Develop the curriculum based on what they learn in the seminar and iterate on HCDE’s past curriculum and lead the workshop in Neah Bay.

Credits & resources:

  • We recommend selected HCDE Undergraduate students to register for 2 credits for HCDE 496 as it can count towards the experiential learning requirement. 
  • Alternatively, students have the option to register for EDUC 401 (not both). HCDE Master’s students can also apply and register for HCDE 596 or EDUC 401.

Riverways organizers will be managing students’ lodging and expenses for the work. You will also have opportunities to explore and learn about the communities through hikes, museum visits, beach days, and events. 

Questions? Email Arpita, HCDE assistant teaching professor, at arpitab@uw.edu.


Autumn 2023

HCDE K-12 Outreach Workshops

To introduce K-12 students to the human centered design (HCD) process, we have been conducting workshops using design activities. For example, in a “design charette,” students are given a particular design space to explore (such as user interfaces for a website, mobile app, or a physical device). In a very short period of time (two hours or less), working in small groups, they brainstorm user needs, develop use-case scenarios, and create interaction designs for an application. We have run these design workshops with students at various educational levels, from middle school to graduate programs, and with K-12 teachers.

We believe that participatory activities such as this design charette, are effective in outreach and getting students interested in how technology influences people and our planet. In a dub talk (July 5, 2017), “Filling the Pipeline: Design & Engineering Workshops for K-12 Outreach,” Professor Andy Davidson summarized the various HCDE outreach efforts. We recommend that you watch the video.

In this DRG, we will continue to broaden our outreach efforts for human centered design in K-12 schools. UW student teams will help develop curricula and materials for design workshops, rehearse, and then go into the classrooms and lead K-12 students in the workshop. They will reflect on their experiences in the workshops and prepare a report. We will use these findings to further develop the outreach curricula.

We are looking for dedicated  and enthusiastic students at all levels (BS, MS, PhD) who are able to consistently participate and help with this work. Eligible students should be familiar with the user centered design process, and have already taken HCDE 210, 318, or 518. Experience working with, teaching, or mentoring young students is a plus.

For questions please contact arpitab@uw.edu.

Arpita B, Assistant Teaching Professor, HCDE
Andrew Davidson, Associate Teaching Professor Emeritus, HCDE