Fabric-Based Computing: (Re)examining the Materiality of Computer Science Learning Through Fiber Crafts

Fiber crafts, such as weaving and sewing, occupy a tension-filled space within computing. While associated with domestic practices, fiber crafts have been recognized as a precursor of the earliest computers and continue to present sources of computational inspiration. The connections between fiber crafts and computing have the potential to uncover possibilities for computing to become more diversified in terms of materials, cultural practices, and ultimately people. To explore the promises of fiber crafts for STEM education, this qualitative dissertation built on constructionist and posthumanist perspectives to examine two fiber crafts (i.e., weaving and fabric manipulation) as contexts for computer science learning. Collectively, the dissertation effectively aligned fiber crafts with computational concepts and showed their potential as a promising context for computer science learning. The work further showed that materials used for STEM learning are non-neutral. Materials matter in what can be learned computationally. Lastly, guided by posthumanist perspectives, the dissertation uncovered computational learning as the process of producing physical expansions and highlighted learning as the process of how computational concepts physically change. The work has implications for theorizing learning, designing for learning, and educational practice. For example, the dissertation presents the utility of posthumanist perspectives as an additional theoretical approach to the study of learning that can surface and help address ongoing relational deficit orientations.

PENELITIAN POTENSI PRODUK HASIL EKSPLORASI LIMBAH POLIESTER DARI INDUSTRI TAS Studi Kasus PT. Tasindo Tassa Industries

<strong>Abstract</strong><br />As main reference for this research, PT. Tasindo Tassa Industries produces around 3 tons of fabric waste from bags production, in which 80% is of polyester kind. Fabric waste are cheaply bought by local waste collector to be remaked as bucket, as one<br />example. Other simple methods of processing fabric waste, such as patchwork, quilting, resin, and webbing are commonly made into craft products, and can be easily found anywhere. Hence, focus of this research is to explore polyester waste with certain<br />technique with innovative value, and to design it into sellable products. Through focus group discussion and a series of experiments, polyester waste are made into bags collection using fabric manipulation technique. Results of this research can be used as reference to help home industry or small scale craftsmen to produce ready-to-sell<br />products.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Abstrak</strong><br />PT. Tasindo Tassa Industries sebagai studi kasus penelitian ini, menghasilkan sekitar 3 ton limbah kain hasil produksi tas, dimana 80% adalah jenis poliester. Sampah kain biasanya dibeli oleh bandar sampah dengan harga yang sangat murah untuk diproduksi lagi menjadi berbagai produk sederhana, seperti<br />ember salah satunya. Sampah kain pada umumnya biasa diolah lagi menjadi produk kerajinan dengan teknik sederhana seperti patchwork, quilting, resin, dan anyam, yang bisa dengan mudah ditemukan dimana-mana. Fokus penelitian ini adalah mengeksplorasi sampah poliester dengan teknik yang<br />memiliki nilai kebaruan dan merancangnya menjadi produk layak jual. Melalui focus group discussion dan eksperimen, sampah poliester dirancang menjadi koleksi tas dengan menggunakan teknik manipulasi kain. Hasil penelitian bisa dipakai sebagai acuan dasar untuk membantu industri skala<br />rumahan atau pengrajin kecil memproduksi barang siap jual.