Using ethnographic data to support preschool children's game design

Ethnography is a well-known instrument for studying the target user group and its context. In this paper, we present and discuss an ethnographic study within a kindergarten environment with the aim of gaining insight into the nature of children's behaviors, interpersonal relationships, and engagement with regular kindergarten resources. The ethnographic data collected is used as supporting material in the design of a memory game that uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. We conducted a Case Study to evaluate the memory game with the participation of 5-6 years old children and preschool teachers, in a real educational scenario. The results suggest that NFC technology may enhance the play experience of the classic memory game by providing emotional connections with the children. The work also contributes by showing the effectiveness of Ethnography in supporting the design of playful technology for a constantly changing and creative environment of kindergarten settings.