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arXiv · 2609.28485

Make it SewSimple: Navigating UK Curriculum and Classroom Practice in Secondary Computing Education with E-textiles

Yifan Feng·Hanlin Zhang·Yishan Du·Weihong Tang·Jennifer A. Rode·Bea Wohl
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Abstract

This paper explores the potential of integrating e-textiles as part of the approach to delivering computing in UK secondary schools. As one of the few UK-based exploratory studies of teachers experiences, it investigates how e-textile platforms such as the SewSimple maker kit and the BBC micro:bit can be incorporated into Key Stage 3 computing education (ages 11-14), taking into account both English national curriculum requirements and the realities of classroom practice. Our research question is: How do teachers perceive the potential of including e-textiles as part of computing education in English secondary schools? In summary, our research contributes to secondary computing education in three ways. First, we examine teachers direct, cross-disciplinarity experiences in two participatory design workshops using a newly designed e-textile platform and extend the limited discussion on supporting the BBC micro:bit in e-textile education. Second, we specifically identify opportunities, barriers, and challenges across three dimensions: school planning, national curriculum guidance, and practical e-textile implementation. Third, we offer insights into best practices for supporting maker technology adoption and pedagogical practices within existing institutional structures to maximize students' benefits for secondary school computing education.

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Yifan Feng, Hanlin Zhang, Yishan Du, Weihong Tang, Jennifer A. Rode, Bea Wohl. 2026-08-09. Make it SewSimple: Navigating UK Curriculum and Classroom Practice in Secondary Computing Education with E-textiles. https://doi.org/10.1145/3801749.3801763

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