Learning by Making with Generative AI: A Faculty Development Design Case
Grounding GenAI training in hands-on, playful experimentation helps faculty build literacy, but some still crave structured guidance.
Charlotte Jones‑Roberts,, Crystle Bechtold,
Simple, physical tasks like origami can successfully teach complex theories online when paired with structured video reflections.
This study evaluated an online module where 19 graduate students learned Kolb's Experiential Learning Theory by actively folding an origami crane. Students moved through four asynchronous stages of learning, sharing 30-second video reflections at each step. The hands-on approach resulted in high engagement and stronger metacognition, though some students needed more scaffolding to connect their physical actions to the underlying theory.
Designers should integrate simple, low-cost tactile tasks into asynchronous courses to ground abstract concepts in concrete physical experiences. Provide explicit prompts and scaffolding to help learners successfully bridge the gap between hands-on activities and theoretical frameworks. Keep the reflection technology simple and accessible to minimize technical friction during active learning cycles.
Grounding GenAI training in hands-on, playful experimentation helps faculty build literacy, but some still crave structured guidance.
Professional conferences bridge virtual gaps and foster critical collaborations to disseminate online learning research.
In online discussions, students synthesize and integrate ideas most deeply when they see the practical utility of the topic.
Engaging graduate students in co-creating design-based research transforms them into active, networked practice-based scholars.
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