How might we re-imagine an educational kit combining the play and exploration of technology alongside indigenous narratives as a cultural exchange?

LunarLink Puzzle consists of nine sets of mortise and tenon joints representing the nine stars of Matariki. Matariki is the star cluster that reappears in the sky at dawn on Māori New Year and connects to their lunar calendar – Maramataka (Meredith, 2006).

Mortise and tenon joints are sets of blocks that are joined together without any glue. They are usually very strong and can withhold expansion and contraction due to temperature changes (Vila, 2016). Many countries worldwide have their own types of mortise and tenon joint techniques for architecture and furniture. The joint shapes and techniques used in this project are from ancient China. The aim is to bring cultural exchange between Māori and Chinese cultures and uplift each other's cultures.

The kit is for students aged 8-12 years old. The accompanying kit workshop is run in groups of nine students, with each student in charge of one star/set of joints. Students can learn about Matariki and develop their puzzle-solving skills by interacting with the kit and reading the instruction sheets. Students can express their feelings about the experience by being creative and drawing on a 4cm x 4cm square paper/cardboard/wood. Then in their groups of nine, they place their drawings onto a Matariki star map, where students gather and celebrate the learning outcome.

The kits are made in wood workshops, with natural timber offcut materials from waste wood collection companies. The kits are then purchased by and delivered to schools. A future goal is to ensure that students from all schools can access the kit, regardless of socio-economic status. Wealthier schools are encouraged to buy two kits, donate one, or donate a monetary amount of lesser value. The donated funds then cover the production cost of kits distributed to other schools. No matter the students' socio-economic backgrounds, they should have equal opportunities to experience and interact with the kit.

I would like to thank my supervisors and technicians. Their comments, ideas, expertise and support helped a lot with this project. I am grateful to the University of Auckland for providing me with an excellent space and environment for learning and designing.

References

Meredith, P. (2006, June 12). Lunar months – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Te Ara.
https://teara.govt.nz/en/maram... the- lunar- calendar/page- 1

Pixabay. (2022). Pixabay. Pixabay.com. https://pixabay.com/

Unsplash. (2022). Beautiful Free Images & Pictures. Unsplash.com; Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/

Vila, B. (2016, November 15). How to Make a Mortise and Tenon Joint. Bob Vila.
https://www.bobvila.com/articl... how- to- make- a- mortise- and- tenon- joint/