TU VI TRAN








Norwegian-Vietnamese designer based in Oslo, Norway.




Works

About me

CV

The Soil Patch 





YEAR
2024

TYPE OF PROJECT
University project

collaborator
Linda Jolly

Tags
Learning tool
Prototyping
UX



Healthy soil can store water, prevent diseases, and grow more food, even in difficult weather. Understanding soil is essential to solving food shortages and climate issues, and it helps build a better future for all of us. Teaching children about what soil is made of; its particles, organic matter, and living organisms, can help them connect the idea of “healthy soil” to the science behind it.

I wanted to build on the familiarity aspect kids have to soil, and explore how their prior knowledge could be seen in relation to something they have less knowledge of, like particles.  



















BackgroundI saw this as an opportunity to make abstract concepts, such as particles, more accessible by connecting them to students’ physical experiences with soil. At the same time, given that iPads in schools often carry negative connotations, I wanted to explore how pairing this digital tool with something as tangible as soil could transform it into a lens: one that enhances students’ ability to engage with the less visible, more abstract aspects of soil.

The goal for this project was to firstly, understand what it takes to maintain healthy soil; and secondly, to grasp what can engage children in their learning process.



















How might abstract concepts like particles be taught to children in 5th grade, in a way that supports their learning about soil health, through interactive activities?

















ProcessWith limited knowledge about soil myself, I collaborated with farmer and soil expert Linda Jolly, and had the chance to visit her farm during the process. There I learnt about what healthy soil (and unhealthy soil) looks, feels and smells like. I also visited Teknisk Museum and spoke with the educational manager to sparr about ideas and concepts.

Through rounds of trial and error, I tested my prototypes with six 5th graders at Vålerenga Elementary School. The workshops helped me gain knowledge on what engaged the kids, and to test what elements sparked their curiosity.

















ResultsThis resulted in The Soil Patch, a supporting tool for kids´ learning about soil health. The tool offers children an interactive lens into soil composition, with toggles for adjusting the depth and position of the soil lens. It’s purpose is to simulate visual elements of soil, from a macro and particle perspective.

As children explore through this digital lens, information emerges in the form of living organisms. By interacting with the simulator, they can experiment with different soil compositions and particle combinations, discovering what conditions are needed to create healthy soil.










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