As we talked with school teachers about the use of physical computing systems in class, one major drawback of these systems became obvious: almost nobody--next to enthusiastic autodidacts--has been able to tell us on an abstract basis for which educational purposes a certain physical computing system can be used, i.e. in a goal-oriented way. This…

The reverse engineering of simple inventions that were of historic significance is now possible in a classroom by using digital models provided by places like the Smithsonian. The digital models can facilitate the mastery of students' STEM learning by utilizing digital fabrication in maker spaces to provide an opportunity for reverse engineer and…