When a Glove Becomes a Gun
Gayithri Jayathirtha, Mia S. Shaw, Yasmin B. Kafai, Debora Lui · 2020
Maker activities not only allow learners to make technologically rich or personally relevant artifacts but also grapple with critical sociocultural issues. With much of the focus on tools and technology, we have far fewer accounts of learners and facilitators handling critical moments that invariably arise. In this paper, we present a case study of a group of four youth making an electronic textiles music wearable to illuminate critical moments that emerged as they presented their artifact. Video analysis of the workshop recordings during the 16 hours of the program highlighted moments of designing, making and presenting the artifact, which led to youth restorying dominant social narratives as they transformed the artifact from an interactive glove to a gun through this performative act. We discuss how youth's restorying brings forward questions regarding the role of facilitators and designers of learning activities in allowing for and addressing similar critical moments within makerspaces.