Geekout Design Research

Leveling Up Case Studies

• Interest group studies– Professional wrestling– 1 Direction fan fiction– Starcraft II– Little Big Planet 2 level design– Ravelry– Fashion

• 3 Design studio studies – Valve– Blizzard– Media Molecule

Key Findings

• Diverse and non-linear pathways of interest-development– On-ramps and recruitment– Detours, lane changes, branches– Leveling up and connecting out

• Barriers and boundaries– Tension between youth/adult valuing of many interests– Lack of on-ramps to online groups for non-dominant youth

interests• Features of high-functioning connected learning

environments– Peer feedback, help, mentoring– Quality control, roles, and reputation systems– Shared purpose and activities: competitions, projects,

mobilizations

Gap Analysis

• Young people lack visibility into interest areas outside of their existing comfort zone

• Teaching and helping are not incentivized and validated in most interest groups

• Difficult to reach out to mentors and experts in areas of interest

• Lack of connections between youth interest groups and adult/institutional recognition

• Commercial online learning/matchmaking platforms don’t serve minors

Design Research Goals

• Democratize, incentivize, and recognize amateur teaching, helping, feedback

• Support matchmaking between learners and teachers/experts

• Build recognition and activity systems that connect interest to opportunity

Phase 1: TeachMeStuff

Phase 2: HOMAGO Geekouts

Phase 3: Building Partnerships

Phase 3: Building Partnerships