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A full design sprint focused on coming up with solutions for complex world problems. Suitable for both students and staff teams.
Design thinking stages
Empathy, define, ideate, prototype, test
Curriculum areas
Dependent on context
Activity 1: Forming a vision
Activity 1: Forming a vision
Provide participants with a How might we... problem statement. If working with students, this should be a meaty real-world problem. If working with staff, this might be a school issue that needs addressing.
Ask participants to describe their vision for a solution to the problem. Record each thought on a separate sticky note. Consider:
their overall vision
their objectives
key results
barriers
enablers.
Activity 2: Finding common themes
Activity 2: Finding common themes
Working in groups of three to four, collect all participants' sticky notes together. As a group, cluster the sticky notes by:
Connecting similar concepts
Grouping similar concepts into common themes
Labelling your themes
Once themes have been identified, as a group, select a theme or topic of most interest for exploring further.
Activity 3: Route cause analysis
Activity 3: Route cause analysis
Define - five whys.pdfConduct a five why's analysis for the chosen topic of interest. Start by framing the current issue, then ask a question about why this issue currently exists. Continue asking "why" at least five times. This should help identify a deeper cause of the underlying problem.
You might like to change the wording of your "why" question to be any of the following:
Why?
Why do we have this problem?
Why is this stopping us?
Wording the "why" question can sometimes lead to different insights.
Activity 4: Problem statement
Activity 4: Problem statement
How might we.pdfWith a deeper understanding of the route cause of the problem, generate a number of How might we statements.
Make sure your problem statement is:
not so narrow that it suggests a solution, even if it's a good idea;
not too broad that it hinders the flow of ideas rather than generates them;
is easy enough that someone can come up with 10 different ideas without too much effort.
Activity 5: Idea generation
Activity 5: Idea generation
Effort benefit matrix v2.pdfThis is Fast & Furious brainstorming. Generate as many ideas as possible in a limited time frame. The goal is quantity, not quality.
Write each idea on a separate sticky note. Next, place each idea within the 2 x 2 matrix which separates ideas into those that are high and low effort and those that are of high and low benefit. Ideas that are low effort by have a high benefit should be pursued first.
Activity 6: Select an idea
Activity 6: Select an idea
Safe-bet
Darling
Moonshot
Finally, select three ideas to consider pursuing:
Safe-best: something you know will guarantee a quick win
Darling: an idea close to your heart
Moonshot: An incredible idea that might difficult to implement
Activity 7: Prototype
Activity 7: Prototype
Create a prototype for your solution. This could be a physical prototype with materials such as cardboard and Lego, a storyboard, a concept map, etc.
Activity 8: Evaluation
Activity 8: Evaluation
SICFAM.pdfUse a template such as SICFAM to evaluate your idea. SICFAM encourages you to consider your idea based on the following dimensions:
Simplicity
Interest
Coherence
Feasibility
Audience appropriateness
Memorable
Use an evaluation tool such as SICFAM to carefully reflect on your idea and consider how you might further improve it. Cycle back through the design thinking process to continue improving your idea.
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