Growing up amid the aftermath of civil war, David Sengeh was inspired to improve prosthetic limbs, observing the challenges faced by amputees firsthand. He innovatively used MRI scans to design more comfortable prosthetic sockets through 3D printing, testing his solutions with veterans and Boston Marathon bombing survivors.
David’s work led to a TED fellowship in 2014, where he highlighted his mission to solve prosthetic discomfort. His achievements were recognized with inclusion in Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2014. After earning his PhD from MIT in 2016, David joined the Sierra Leone government as chief innovation officer and later became the Minister of Education, focusing on technology access for children and speaking globally about his work.
Inspired by David Sengeh, who works to improve access to education, let's explore how we can design learning tools and environments that are accessible to everyone.
- Observe: Think about different ways people learn. Do some people learn better by listening, while others learn better by doing? Consider students who might have difficulty seeing, hearing, or using technology. What might make learning hard for them?
- Brainstorm: List at least three challenges that some students might face in a typical classroom. Choose one challenge that you find most interesting.
- Design: Design a classroom or learning tool that helps students overcome this challenge. Think about:
- What specific challenge does it address?
- How does it work?
- What materials would it be made from?
- Who would benefit from your design?
- CreateDraw a detailed picture of your accessible classroom or learning tool. You can also try to build a simple model using craft supplies or recycled materials. Explain how your design helps students learn. Upload your drawing.