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Work-in-Progress: The Transformative Cauldron, Development of the Optimal Space-in-Between

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Conference

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Minneapolis, MN

Publication Date

August 23, 2022

Start Date

June 26, 2022

End Date

June 29, 2022

Conference Session

Entrepreneurship & Engineering Innovation Division Technical Session 1

Page Count

18

DOI

10.18260/1-2--40574

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/40574

Download Count

267

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Paper Authors

biography

Kay Cutler South Dakota State University

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Kay Cutler, Ph.D., is a Professor in Early Childhood Education in the School of Education, Counseling, and Human Development at South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota. A member of the Rich Normality Design Collaborative.

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Craig Silvernagel South Dakota State University

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Todd Letcher South Dakota State University

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Todd Letcher, Ph.D, is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at South Dakota State University where he teaches a sophomore design course and the senior capstone course sequence.

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Abstract

Abstract

What are the elements of an optimal space in-between for cross-disciplinary design teams? Specifically, how does the development of high-quality soft skills, such as openness to perspective-taking, openness to failure, healthy problem-solving approaches, a growth mindset, a strong sense of agency, healthy curiosity/creativity, and an openness to a culture of inquiry by building shared meaning impact the design experience of cross-disciplinary teams’ work? Deleuze and Guatarri [1] identify the ‘space in-between’ as a place where teammates negotiate shared goals and understandings. A healthy space-in-between lays the foundation for effective experiences that inclusively value multiple perspectives while fostering group and individual agency. This paper shares insights from undergraduate student experiences in a multi-disciplinary design project and the influences an optimal space-in-between has on innovative design education.

Our focused analysis highlights initial findings from an eight-week, intensely iterative, cross-disciplinary design experience (completed in Spring 2021) of a three-year project. The project’s aim is to create and commercialize Lunar Life: Designation Mars, an interactive “Moon to Mars” traveling exhibit designed for children’s museums and smaller science centers. During this process, undergraduates from mechanical engineering, entrepreneurial studies, interior design, and early childhood education completed pre- & post- surveys measuring the soft skills mentioned above. In addition, students completed weekly mind-maps measuring their current state of mind regarding the design process. Finally, there were self-reflections at four milestones during the eight-week process focus on the space-in between qualities of movement, experimentation, lines of flight and sense of stuck-ness.

Cutler, K., & Silvernagel, C., & Letcher, T. (2022, August), Work-in-Progress: The Transformative Cauldron, Development of the Optimal Space-in-Between Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. 10.18260/1-2--40574

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