STEM Subjects Face the Haptic Generation: The iScholar Tesis doctoral Nuria Llobregat Gómez Director Dr. D. Luis Manuel Sánchez Ruiz Valencia, noviembre 2019 A mi Madre, a mi Padre (†), a mis Yayos (†), y a mi Hija, sin cuya existencia esto no hubiese podido suceder. Contents Abstract. English Version Resumen. Spanish Version Resum. Valencian Version Acknowledgements Introduction_____________________________________________________________________ 7 Outsight ____________________________________________________________________________________ 13 Insight ______________________________________________________________________________________14 Statement of the Research Questions __________________________________________________________ 15 Dissertation Structure ________________________________________________________________________16 SECTION A. State of the Art. The Drivers ____________________________________________ 19 Chapter 1: Haptic Device Irruption 1.1 Science or Fiction? Some Historical Facts ______________________________________________ 25 1.2 The Irruptive Perspective ___________________________________________________________ 29 1.2.1 i_Learn & i_Different ____________________________________________________________________ 29 1.2.2 Corporate Discourse and Education ________________________________________________________ 31 1.2.3 Size & Portability Impact _________________________________________________________________ 33 First Devices _____________________________________________________________________________ 33 Pro Models ______________________________________________________________________________ 35 1.3 Learning from Screens _____________________________________________________________ 37 1.3.1 Passive Screens _________________________________________________________________________ 37 1.3.2 Interactive Screens______________________________________________________________________ 38 1.3.3 From Passive to Interactive ______________________________________________________________ 40 1.4 Haptic Device _____________________________________________________________________ 42 1.4.1 Definition ______________________________________________________________________________ 42 1.4.2 Data __________________________________________________________________________________ 43 1.4.3 Device Features that Enhances Literacy Learning ___________________________________________ 44 Digging for Learning ______________________________________________________________________ 44 Device Technical Specifications ____________________________________________________________ 45 Informing Learning with Assistive Features and Built-in Support ________________________________ 46 User Interaction__________________________________________________________________________ 47 Devices and Literacy Facilitators _____________________________________________________________ 51 Chapter 2. Framing the Digital Scope 2.1 Introduction ______________________________________________________________________ 57 2.2 Spanish Generational Cohorts _______________________________________________________ 60 2.2.1 The Grands ______________________________________________________________________________61 2.2.2 The Silents _____________________________________________________________________________ 62 2.2.3 The Boomers___________________________________________________________________________ 64 2.2.4 XGens _________________________________________________________________________________ 65 2.2.5 YGens _________________________________________________________________________________ 67 2.2.6 ZGens _________________________________________________________________________________ 68 1 2.3 Mashup Generation: The Digital Me __________________________________________________ 71 2.3.1. The Melting Pot ________________________________________________________________________ 72 2.3.2. The digital “i” _________________________________________________________________________ 74 2.3.3 Curating Formal Education _______________________________________________________________ 76 Formal Education and Digitalization ________________________________________________________ 76 Major Educational Swifts __________________________________________________________________ 77 Web Development Stages and Formal Education _____________________________________________ 79 2.4 The Haptic Generation _____________________________________________________________ 86 2.4.1 First Contact with Digitalization___________________________________________________________ 86 2.4.2 Digitally Savvy _________________________________________________________________________ 88 2.4.3 A New Playmat _________________________________________________________________________ 89 2.4.4 Switching on the Device _________________________________________________________________ 90 SECTION B. Research Design & Data Collection _______________________________________93 Chapter 3. Methodology 3.1 Research Philosophy _______________________________________________________________ 99 3.2 Research Approach _______________________________________________________________ 101 3.3 Research Design _________________________________________________________________ 103 3.3.1 Ethnographic Observation Guiding the Research ___________________________________________ 103 3.3.2 Ethnographic Design ___________________________________________________________________ 104 3.3.3 Research Questions _____________________________________________________________________107 3.4 Research Methods _______________________________________________________________ 109 3.4.1 Primary Data Collection used _____________________________________________________________ 110 A. HG Case Study _________________________________________________________________________ 110 B. ZG Case Study _________________________________________________________________________ 111 C. Papers on Early Childhood using Haptic Devices with Learning Purposes ______________________ 111 3.4.2 Secondary Data Collection used __________________________________________________________ 112 3.4.3 Observational Research _________________________________________________________________ 112 3.5 Sampling ________________________________________________________________________ 113 3.6 Ethical Considerations ____________________________________________________________ 114 Chapter 4. Data Collection 4.1 HG Case Study____________________________________________________________________ 119 4.1.1 HG Research Variables ___________________________________________________________________ 119 Home Setting ____________________________________________________________________________120 Child Info________________________________________________________________________________ 121 Device Used _____________________________________________________________________________ 121 Device Using Conditions___________________________________________________________________ 122 Emotional Constructs when Using the Device ________________________________________________ 123 4.1.2 HG Aimed Reports ______________________________________________________________________ 124 4.1.3 Researcher’s Observations _______________________________________________________________ 125 4.1.4 Family Overviews _______________________________________________________________________126 4.1.5 Parents Survey Data Collection ___________________________________________________________143 4.2 ZG Case Study ___________________________________________________________________ 149 4.2.1 Situational Context: UPV, Valencia, Spain _________________________________________________ 149 4.2.2 ZG Survey Data Collection _______________________________________________________________ 151 4.2.3 ZG Essays ______________________________________________________________________________ 153 4.3 Papers on Early Childhood Using Haptic Devices with Learning Purposes ________________ 156 List of Peer reviewed Papers (2010-2018) ______________________________________________________ 159 2 SECTION C. Data Discussion. Implications ___________________________________________ 171 Chapter 5. Early Learning & Haptic Devices 5.1 Introduction _____________________________________________________________________ 177 5.2 Gestating a Scholar Brain __________________________________________________________ 181 5.2.1 Social Interaction _______________________________________________________________________ 181 5.2.2 Imitation ______________________________________________________________________________182 5.2.3 Starting to Think ______________________________________________________________________ 183 5.2.4 How Learning Happens in Early Years ____________________________________________________ 183 5.2.5 Earlier Haptic Interactions ______________________________________________________________ 185 5.3 Child Involvement in the Learning Experience ________________________________________ 188 5.3.1 Active Learning ________________________________________________________________________ 189 5.3.2 Engagement __________________________________________________________________________ 190 5.3.3 Haptic Interaction within the Social Context ______________________________________________ 190 5.3.4 Socio-Emotional Development ___________________________________________________________ 191 5.3.5 Meaningful Learning ___________________________________________________________________ 193 5.3.6 Scaffolded Exploration _________________________________________________________________ 194 5.4 Adult Involvement