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1. Almost in Our Grasp: The (Slow) Digital Return of Multimodal Educational Resources

   Abrahamson, Dor (April 2023, Constructivist Foundations)

   Whereas I empathize with Penny’s grave concern over current modalist instructional technology – “modalist” in the sense of privileging one modality, predominantly vision, at the expense of all others – I do not quite share his bleak assessment of future offerings. Following some hopefully inspiring words from historical philosophers of education, I showcase the Quad, a haptic-tactile mechatronic device built by three US-based laboratories collaborating to create modally expansive learning tools for classrooms that are inclusive of sensorially diverse students. While the Quad is “digital” in the familiar computational sense, it is at once “digital” in the corporeal sense of evoking the fingers – it reintroduces mutimodal engagement into mathematics learning. 

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2. Move or be moved: The design of a haptic-tangible manipulative for paired digital education interactives

   Lambert, S G; Tennison, J L; Mitchell, K; Moore, E B; Gorlewicz, J L (June 2024, Eurohaptics Conference)

   One of the current limitations in digital educational experiences is the lack of touch. Touch is a critical component in the learning process and in creating inclusive educational experiences for sensorially diverse learners. From haptic devices to tangible user interfaces (TUI), a growing body of research is investigating ways to bring touch back into the digital world, yet many focus on a specific dimension (e.g. haptic feedback or kinesthetic manipulation) of touch. Learning, however, is a multi-dimensional touch experience - it is about moving and being moved. This work presents the Action Quad - a novel haptic-TUI design for teaching geometry (specifically quadrilaterals). The Action Quad is a multi-point-of-contact, reconfigurable tool that synergizes the affordances of both kinesthetic interaction and haptic feedback into a single form factor. We present findings from an initial user study (N=11) investigating how sighted- hearing individuals approach, interact, and experience the Action Quad, and we present a case study with an individual with blindness. We share key takeaways from the design process and participant feedback on interactions with this novel haptic-TUI device, sharing design insights on an emerging area of research that could support a new class of educational learning tools rooted in touch. 

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3. Cultivating a science identity in underrepresented students through near-peer mentoring

   Madison, E. (July 2021, Tenth SELF International Conference)

   This research reports on interim findings from a National Science Foundation-funded study on the efficacy of near-peer mentoring to promote motivation and identity development among students from groups underrepresented in STEM fields. The researchers facilitated a weeklong summer science mentoring program that paired career-curious high school mentees with undergraduate near-peer mentors. Designed to capture unscripted authenticity (Robin, 2008), digital storytelling (DST) was used to document unscripted, authentic interactions between mentor and mentee as they worked together in laboratories, participated in conducting experiments, and shared meals together. The presentation features video highlights and themes that emerged from the study. 

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4. The History of Science and the Science of History: Computational Methods, Algorithms, and the Future of the Field

   Gibson, Abraham; Ermus, Cindy (September 2019, Isis)

   Many researchers insist that computational methods will transform the historical profession, while an equally large number reject these claims as unwarranted hype. In this study, we attempt to place the debate in historical and social context. The article is divided into three parts. The first part offers a brief review of computational history. We ask whether the “computational turn” bears any resemblance to quantitative history, and how it fits within the digital humanities. The second part describes our recent attempts to apply computational methods to an existing project in the history of science using a standardized workflow. We demonstrate that each step of the workflow adds another layer of subjectivity. The third part reflects on what computational methods mean for the historical profession. We systematically review the positive aspects of computational history (open access, interdisciplinary collaboration, and new perspectives) as well as the negative aspects (inequality, fragility, and the threat of automation), and we offer prescriptions based on our experiences. 

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5. Latine health and development in the digital age: assets-based inclusive design as a social movement for equitable distributions of power

   https://doi.org/10.1145/3550199  

   Hernandez, J. Maya; Ahumada-Newhart, Veronica (September 2022, Interactions)

   Latine Health and Development in the Digital Age: Assets-Based Inclusive Design as a Social Movement for Equitable Distributions of Power → Inclusive design of digital platforms may increase equitable access to healthcare services and dismantle systemic barriers for Latine communities. → Ethical identification of assets in the design process can promote action through internal change or external allyship. → The ABID framework is designed to minimize technology-based amplifications of existing inequities. 

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