Short answer
Designers of educational tools and experiences should actively seek to understand and incorporate the diverse backgrounds and existing knowledge bases of their target users, rather than assuming a uniform starting point.
- Field
- User-Centred Design
- Source
- Journal of Engineering Education (2016)
- Method
- Ethnographic study
- Sample
- Seven groups of Latina/o adolescents (specific number not stated)
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Integrating the existing knowledge and cultural practices of Latina/o adolescents into engineering education can bridge the perceived gap between their lives and the field, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and interest. This user-centred design research insight is drawn from a 2016 study published in Journal of Engineering Education. Using Ethnographic study with Seven groups of Latina/o adolescents (specific number not stated), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers of educational tools and experiences should actively seek to understand and incorporate the diverse backgrounds and existing knowledge bases of their target users, rather than assuming a uniform starting point.
Leveraging Familial and Community Knowledge Enhances Engineering Engagement for Latina/o Adolescents
Integrating the existing knowledge and cultural practices of Latina/o adolescents into engineering education can bridge the perceived gap between their lives and the field, fostering a stronger sense of belonging and interest.
Journal of Engineering Education · 2016
Key Findings
- 01Participants' everyday skills and knowledge aligned with engineering practices.
- 02Familial, community, and recreational funds of knowledge mapped directly onto engineering design processes, systems thinking, ethical reasoning, knowledge of production, tool use, scientific/mathematical knowledge, and teamwork.
Application
Design takeaway
Designers of educational tools and experiences should actively seek to understand and incorporate the diverse backgrounds and existing knowledge bases of their target users, rather than assuming a uniform starting point.
How to apply
When designing educational interventions or products for young people, conduct research to identify the specific 'funds of knowledge' they possess from their home and community life, and build design activities that explicitly leverage these strengths.
Project actions
- 01When researching user needs, ask about their hobbies, family activities, and community involvement to uncover hidden skills and knowledge.
- 02Consider how cultural practices or community problem-solving approaches can inform the design of a product or system.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Employs an in-depth ethnographic approach to capture rich, contextual data.
- +Directly links everyday practices to formal engineering concepts.
Limitations
The findings are specific to Latina/o adolescents and may not apply universally. The study's ethnographic nature means findings are context-dependent.
Reliability & validity
Reliability could be enhanced through triangulation of data sources (interviews, observations, protocols). Validity is strengthened by the ethnographic approach providing deep, contextual understanding of the participants' experiences.
Think critically
To what extent can the concept of 'funds of knowledge' be applied to other design fields beyond engineering, and how might the specific types of knowledge vary across different disciplines?
Design Principles
"Validate and integrate user's existing knowledge and cultural context into the design and learning process."
This research highlights a critical opportunity for designers and educators to create more inclusive and effective engineering learning environments. By recognizing and valuing the 'funds of knowledge' that students bring from their homes, communities, and recreational activities, we can make engineering more accessible and relevant.
What This Means for Your Design
If you want to get young people interested in engineering, show them how the skills they already use with their families and friends can be used to solve real problems.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this research to justify a user-centered approach that prioritizes understanding the user's existing knowledge and context.
- 2.Cite this study when discussing how to make design solutions more inclusive and relevant to specific user groups.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This design project acknowledges that users possess diverse 'funds of knowledge' derived from their familial, community, and recreational experiences. As evidenced by research such as Wilson-Lopez et al. (2016), integrating these existing skills and cultural practices into design solutions can significantly enhance user engagement and perceived relevance, particularly in fields like engineering.
Source
Journal of Engineering Education
Latina/o Adolescents' Funds of Knowledge Related to Engineering
journal · 2016
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about leveraging familial and community knowledge enhances engineering engagement for latina/o adolescents?
- Designers of educational tools and experiences should actively seek to understand and incorporate the diverse backgrounds and existing knowledge bases of their target users, rather than assuming a uniform starting point. Evidence: Journal of Engineering Education (2016).
- Why does "Leveraging Familial and Community Knowledge Enhances Engineering Engagement for Latina/o Adolescents" matter for design?
- This research highlights a critical opportunity for designers and educators to create more inclusive and effective engineering learning environments. By recognizing and valuing the 'funds of knowledge' that students bring from their homes, communities, and recreational activities, we can make engineering more accessible and relevant.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers of educational tools and experiences should actively seek to understand and incorporate the diverse backgrounds and existing knowledge bases of their target users, rather than assuming a uniform starting point.
- What were the main findings?
- Participants' everyday skills and knowledge aligned with engineering practices.. Familial, community, and recreational funds of knowledge mapped directly onto engineering design processes, systems thinking, ethical reasoning, knowledge of production, tool use, scientific/mathematical knowledge, and teamwork.
- What research method was used?
- Ethnographic study with Seven groups of Latina/o adolescents (specific number not stated).
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2016 journal from Journal of Engineering Education.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing educational interventions or products for young people, conduct research to identify the specific 'funds of knowledge' they possess from their home and community life, and build design activities that explicitly leverage these strengths.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focused on a specific demographic (Latina/o adolescents) and may not be generalizable to all student populations without further research. The specific engineering design problems addressed were identified by the adolescents themselves, which may influence the types of funds of knowledge activated.