Whiteboxing “Bits n bots”

Abstract

In this chapter, we explore emerging educational technology or “bits and bots” as platforms for computational play and learning and argue that great educational potential can be found in these emerging technologies because of their limitations, not in spite of them. Based on the theoretical notion of computational play as the connection between computational thinking and playful learning, we present different practical examples of emerging technologies at play, including “physical coding” with robots and bricks as well as collaborative creation with a self-assembled 3D printer. In particular, we explore how these technologies in their inherently “frail” emerging state, with their flaws and failures, make space for whiteboxing otherwise complex black box technology and thus become “objects to think (computationally) with” in surprising, playful ways; creating new cyber-physical learning spaces, communities and emerging computational play practices.