Designing for the Internet of Things

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as Bruner or Dienne have built on these “constructivist” ideas, creating
materials used to facilitate learning. In a review of studies on the use
of manipulatives in the classroom, researchers Marilyn Suydam and
Jon Higgins concluded that “studies at every grade level support the
importance and use of manipulative materials.” Taking things one step
further, educator and artificial intelligence pioneer Seymour Papert
introduced constructionism (not to be confused with constructivism),
which holds that learning happens most effectively when people are
also active in making tangible objects in the real world.
OK. But what of adults, who’ve had a chance to internalize most of these
concepts? Using Piaget’s own model, some might argue that the body
is great for lower-level cognitive problems, but not for more abstract or
complex topics. This topic is one of some debate, with conversations
returning to “enactivism” and the role of our bodies in constructing
knowledge. The central question is this: if learning is truly embodied,
why or how would that change with age? Various studies continue to
reveal this mind-body connection. For example, one study found that
saying words such as “lick, pick, and kick” activates the correspond-
ing brain regions associated with the mouth, hand, and foot, respec-
tively. I’d add that these thinking tools extend our thinking, the same
way objects such as pen and paper, books, or the handheld calculator
(abacus or digital variety—you choose) have allowed us to do things we
couldn’t do before. Indeed, the more complex the topic, the more neces-
sary it is to use our environment to externalize our thinking.
Moreover, there is indeed a strong and mysterious connection between
the brain and the body. We tend to gesture when we’re speaking, even
if on a phone when no one else can see us. I personally have observed
different thinking patterns when standing versus sitting. In computer
and retail environments, people talk about “leaning in” versus “leaning
back” activities. In high school, I remember being told to look up, if I
was unsure of how to answer a question—apparently looking up had,
in some study, been shown to aid in the recall of information! Athletes,
dancers, actors—all these professions talk about the yet unexplained
connections between mind and body.
As magical as the personal computer and touchscreen devices are, there
is something lost when we limit interactions to pressing on glass or
clicking a button. Our bodies are capable of so much more. We have the
capacity to grasp things, sense pressure (tactile or volumetric), identify