AppsFromResearch
Folded BY-U icon

Folded BY-U

Brigham Young University
Evidence Tier:DOCUMENTED

Published in academic literature

For:Educators & TeachersKids & Youth
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App Summary

Folded BY-U is an educational tool for K-12 students, parents, and educators that uses video tutorials to teach the art of origami and its connections to mathematics and engineering. The app was developed as part of a university-museum collaboration that explored using art to expand public engagement with scientific research. The authors conclude this model is an effective outreach strategy, demonstrating that the app can leverage the accessibility of origami to broaden interest in STEM concepts beyond a museum setting.

App Screenshots

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Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

Folded BY-U, developed by Brigham Young University, delivers pedagogical content connecting the art of origami with foundational principles of mathematics and engineering. The application leverages video tutorials to guide the creation of origami figures. Each instructional module is paired with content that explicates the underlying engineering concepts, such as compliant mechanisms. The interface is designed for self-paced learning, operating either as a standalone educational tool or as a component of a museum-based outreach initiative.

Evidence & Research Context

  • The app was developed as part of a university-museum collaboration, detailed in a general research article, to extend engineering outreach through accessible educational tools.
  • Its pedagogical approach links the tactile art of origami to abstract engineering and mathematical concepts to foster problem-solving and abstract thinking skills.
  • The authors note the app was designed for broad use, extending educational engagement beyond a physical museum exhibit to K-12 students, parents, and educators.

Intended Use & Scope

This application is designed as an educational tool for K-12 students, parents, and educators. Its primary utility is to introduce engineering and mathematical principles through guided, hands-on activities. The app functions as a supplemental resource to stimulate interest and develop foundational problem-solving confidence, not as a comprehensive academic curriculum.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Non-Evaluative Reference

Outreach Potential of Displaying Research Artifacts in Art Museums

Howell et al. (2018) · ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition Proceedings

Referenced in academic literature; no direct evaluation of the app
This paper explores how displaying engineering research artifacts in art museums can facilitate expanded outreach opportunities. A combination of visual art and innovative engineering offers an unusual opportunity to engage a wide spectrum of society. To evaluate the potential, faculty and students collaborated with the Brigham Young University Museum of Art to create a museum exhibition that connected the art of origami to engineering, math, science, and product design. A framework is introduced that includes the creation of a museum exhibition; and once the initial investment is made to create the central exhibition, the results are efficiently used to extend outreach efforts through first-generation products (coincident with the exhibition) and then through second-generation products (after the exhibition). The paper describes a detailed example of this framework and provides evidence to support the concept that displaying research artifacts in an art museum can expand research opportunities. Products from the exhibition that provided expanded outreach opportunities include the following: an exhibit catalog originally created for the gift shop that was expanded for publication with a national publisher; a tablet/smart phone app that includes origami instructions followed by related engineering activities, which has had broad use beyond the museum activity room; a video that was prepared for museum patrons but has since been made available to larger audiences; materials created for hands-on museum activities that were used for outreach activities after the exhibition; and leverage for industry visits that led to additional applications and research projects. This paper describes the museum exhibition, the first- and second-generation products, the impact of each product, and the benefits and pitfalls of using a museum exhibition to extend outreach impact.
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Folded BY-U

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