Small Actions, Big Differences
Date: 22/6, 2,3,9,10/7
Time: 9:30am-5pm
About:
In an organizing team of 8 including 2 trainers, we held 8 workshops for 300 F.3-5 students and 1 workshop to university students.
The main workshops’ theme is using Design Thinking–a human centered approach to solve a particular case of homeless people. There were 1 to 2 facilitators per group (8 -10 students). A few people to be involved in the drama team, taking up the role of acting as a homeless person for students to do a mass interview. The students were very much engaged and the actor’s description and story was very vivid.
They learnt about empathy (increase understanding on the needs of the target group/user through observation, immerse and interview), reframe/ define the problem, find insight, brainstorm and make in action (prototyping). At each stage, they learn about the essential and practice by hand with their team. At the end, complete solutions were presented.
Outcome
The feedback of the workshops is very positive. The training of Design thinking made them very aware of and being sensitive to the process of problem solving. The practice of observation, reorganization of information, brainstorming, collective efforts from team work, think by doing etc. made them realize the fun side and readily they are able to put thoughts together to build solutions for social good.
The acting part enhances the capacity of empathy by the students, we might think that the young generation is ignorant, but indeed they are not. Many were emotionally attached to the story so they were able to create some need-focus solutions. The prototype part was very much enjoyed by the students which show that they are highly collaborative and willing to participate actively to contribute.
Many of them are creative and are not restricted by taboos thus have come up with more promising solutions such as the ‘收(紙)皮公司’–紙皮棺材 to preserve the dignity of card box collecting profession as well as discover business opportunity, provide an affordable and eco-friendly solution;
‘浪人貓狗配對’ to address the loneliness and love need of the homeless; ‘Homeful garden’ through planting flowers and trees which can have visual outcome to rebuild the confident and appreciation towards life.
Afterall, the workshops were successful as a fun experience not only address and relate the students to the social problems but for the students to realize they could think in different ways, perspectives; have new thoughts, self-reflections and find out more possibilities.
Workshop feedback
“FUN!, a problem solving mindset can be learnt”
“Very applicable, I can use design thinking anywhere”
“Become more insightful of the social issues around me”
“Noticed the importance of empathy, the true meaning of standing in ones’ shoes”
“To understand the real problem, you really need to know understand the user”
“It is a different level of thinking; it drills much deeper to the cores of problem”
“It is a lot more creative to combine everyone’s ideas together”
“Inspires me to use my creativity to solve problems”
“Solutions can also be initiated by us, not only the government!”
“Enhances teamwork, and improves communication”
“I have never thought of using a prototype to express myself”
“Has prompt me to think a lot more, and to be multi-angular”
“Provide room for us to think”
“The whole atmosphere has been very encouraging to generate ideas”