explanation architecture

project: MindSWARM: a model for educational broadercasting

architects: Brian K Smith, Jonah Peretti, Jeana Frost

 

 

 Educational television will be radically transformed by the convergence of media and computation. MindSWARM provides a vision for a new kind of activity-based, augmented television show that integrates digital video, computational construction kits, and on-line interaction.

tag

code is broadcasted

challenge is posted on the web

"secret word" described

kids work on their version of the project

an archive of the shows is posted on the web

"secret word is spoken -- projects are activated

 

 

The previous show ends with a design challenge

Viewers spend a week working on the challenge

The next show explores the challenge

The challenge begins when code is broadcast from a set-top box or pc to the computational construction kit.

The challenge is presented on television and on the web site and is also sent via e-mail to viewers who may have missed the show.

In preparation for the next show, viewers spend the week creating a solution to the design challenge using the broadcasted code, and construction kits.

The web site promotes community interaction and showcases successful projects. Content is archived by category in order to be reused easily.

Educators use the show to support innovative curriculum development

The show features a group of children working on the same challenge that the viewers have worked on all week

Segments relate the design project to real world applications, conceptual issues, and cutting edge research in related fields.

The design projects are all simultaneously activated when the "secret word" is spoken on the air.