In this workshop, participants engage in an engineering design challenge that uses DJing as a real-world context for problem solving as well as a performance skill. After a conversation exploring parallels between engineering and DJing, attendees - working in teams - act as engineers tasked with solving authentic problems DJs may experience, such as equipment portability, accessibility, interface usability, or crowd feedback.
Participants apply the engineering design process- problem identification, defining constraints, brainstorming, prototyping, and iteration- by generating ideas and creating sketches & low-fidelity models using everyday materials to communicate them.
DJing serves as a fun, engaging & relevant system that illustrates how STEM blends with artistic expression, while the core learning remains focused on engineering practices, user-centered design, and problem-solving strategies that educators can easily transfer to their own classrooms.