Using music videos to inspire engineering (evaluation)

Abstract

The OK Go Sandbox project is a free resource website for K-12 educators. Launched in Spring 2018, the site currently contains 15+ videos and educator guides on topics ranging from engineering concepts (such as simple machines, sensors, and design process) to teamwork and artistic exploration. The content is created in a collaboration between the band OK Go and the Playful Learning Lab at the University of St. Thomas, with K-12 educators involved throughout the planning and implementation phases. Since its launch, educators have used the materials in a variety of ways, some of which the development team had not previously considered. This paper will particularly focus on the implementation and evaluation of the engineering content on the site. We will present and discuss results from (1) educator feedback surveys, (2) website analytics, and (3) educator focus groups. We will also reflect on the challenges and opportunities in promoting new web-based educator materials. Our team has implemented a number of strategies to reach teachers, including social media, conference attendance, and email newsletters. Now that the materials have been available for over 18 months, we are able to share lessons learned from this project and identify the areas that are being explored for further investigation and refinement.