Abstract
An interlocking puzzle has normally been designed for learning problem solving and spatial intelligent skills. These skills are important for study in various fields of design and technology. The way to develop understanding for assembling puzzle may come from the levels of difficulty which suit for individual player. The process for design interlocking wooden puzzle in difficulty levels is rare. Other researchers suggested that an amount of components and a different shape of components are effected to difficulty levels for assembling. Therefore, this research interested in developing a design process. The research aimed to explore variables which effect design consideration by setting for 5 students design for different interlocking models. Each model had 3 difficulty levels for assembling. After that tested by 50 participants composed all difficulty levels and collected by video recorder for compared play time by statistical analysis. The result of experiment showed that the play time of 3 students who designed wooden puzzle of weighing apparatus, house, and rectangle shape were significantly different. On the other hand, the result of experiment showed that the play time of 2 students who designed wooden puzzle of triangle, circle shape was not significantly different. Further, we found that an important variable to effect difficulty levels of assembly was different hints in which players can found in different stages of assembling process. Finally, discovery variables led to consider new method to make difficult levels of assembly in various shapes of interlocking puzzle. Designers and researchers can consider and use this method to design and develop interlocking puzzle by themselves in the future.
Keywords— Difficulty levels of Assembling, Interlocking Wooden Puzzle, Conceptual Models