Share Bao is the Chinese characters learning toy for children. It will take you on a historical learning journey by moving blocks with stories and vivid pictures.
Design Process
Those materials are not for the Western countries. The course contents are harder for foreigners to use even at the novice level. For example, some textbooks use ancient poetry. That is even difficult for native Mandarin speaking kids. When learners feel frustrated and the contents are beyond their understanding, they give up learning.
Secondary Research
Inspiration
“I hear, and I forget. I see, and I remember. I do, and I understand.” - Ancient Asian proverb.
Those materials are not for the Western countries. The course contents are harder for foreigners to use even at the novice level. For example, some textbooks use ancient poetry. That is even difficult for native Mandarin speaking kids. When learners feel frustrated and the contents are beyond their understanding, they give up learning.
Secondary Research Conclusion
There are more and more schools and programs offering various Mandarin courses for young children.
Mandarin teaching sources are quite limited in the U.S. Besides, most of the Chinese products focus on native Chinese speakers not English language native speakers. There is no product for young learners. There are more and more schools and programs offering various Mandarin courses for young children.
Primary Research
In my primary research, I brought my sketches and the mock ups with me to interview college professors, high school and elementary schools teachers. After interviewing, I took experts suggestions and kept adjusting the model. Besides, I participated in the Bay Area teachers’ conferences to build the connection with local teachers.
Primary Research Conclusion
The ACTFL common core standard is the rubric that educators followed.
After class, parents want to review children’s assignments at home; however, most parents don’t know Mandarin.
After being a TA at Contra Costa Chinese School in summer 2016, I realized if I wanted to design a product for secondary language learners, I should stand in learners’ shoes.
Learning Strategy
In summer 2016 as a TA in Mandarin class, I understood how English native speakers learn Chinese and what kinds of learning strategies maintain their interests. Pictures and stories are the ways to help learners remember what they learn and catch their attention. In this chapter, I designed the top piece with different topics. There are five different topics: family, color, numbers, simple pictograms, body parts and animals which I took from the kindergarten’s textbook. I came up with some ideas for picture matching and simple slogans to assist learners to know how to move. The stories part not only assist learners to remember the characters, but also absorb the Chinese culture at the same time. The character‘s story I wrote used different dictionaries’ explanation and historical documents as reference to apply to each character.
Learning Strategy Conclusion
Most kids are more focused on picture matching.
Adults listened to stories carefully and moved the components after I finished the stories. Without the paper sheet, adults always can repeat the stories which I told.
Parents assist their kids to make the connection and explain the stories as they relate to their daily lives.
Design Phase
The final shapes idea come from the empire’s scroll. Inserting the different pieces and start to play. You can switch the different modes with the button on the left.
I rounded the shape and added curves on both sides. Besides, I changed how the drawer opens. Opening from the right scroll not only makes the drawer more steady, but also conveys the scroll’s image directly.
Mechanical Application
1. Upper case (ABS) | Injection molding
2. Lower case (ABS) | Injection molding
3. Top left speaker part (ABS) | Injection molding
4. Lower left part (ABS) | Injection molding
5. Mode changing ring (ABS) | Injection molding
6. Drawer upper case (ABS) | Injection molding
7. Drawer (ABS) | Injection molding
8. Top right part (ABS) | Injection molding
9. Lower right part (ABS) | Injection molding
10. Screws x 11(Aluminum) | Thread rolling
11. Movable part (ABS) | Injection molding
12. Top piece (ABS) | Injection molding
13. Lower piece (ABS) | Injection molding
How to use
Insert the plastic square piece.
Turn to choose the mode.
Mode 1: Various stories about characters
Mode 2: Different songs with melodies
Move the letter block by following the stories and images.
