Reflection – Mind mapping

Challenge

To choose a best tool of design thinking that can be applied for my project, itself a challenge. I

actually work with set of   volunteers in an organization. The goal of the organization is to encourage the  “can do” spirit of under privileged government rural school students between the ages of 13 and 16. My  job is to frame a course or pattern or procedures to make those students to grasp their lessons in a easy  way, so that they can come out of their fear, learn the things very fast, also it will help them to improve  their communication skill too. I tried few methods earlier that do not give me much better results. I felt  that we did not understand them. We listed all their needs, desires and their aim by interacting with the  students. I decided to use any of the design thinking tool to help the students to perform in better in their  studies in general.

Selection

Among the many tools we learnt in design thinking, I used the third tool “Mind mapping” to have a  common understanding of the problem among the teen age group of students. I feel mind mapping  approach with the stake holders of the government schools can be more appropriate to encourage and pull  their caliber outside. Mind mapping will be very help to sort out the requirements, needs and also to  identify the ways to solve the same. Moreover mind mapping tool is quiet easy for me as well as I can  share the same to students to use it in their way to remember the concept they learn their regular academic  classes. Mind mapping tools allows us to collect the data. With data we can narrow down easily to pattern  or structure which makes us solve the complex problem with better results.

Application

Using mind map we can easily figure out the connections between the different pieces of a

particular problem. Mind map can be easily drawn by hand for any particular concept, starting from the  center and relate the same with many ideas with colors, figures, pictures and words. The rural schools  kids do not even have a life goal. Most of them do not know what they want to be in future. Mind map is  used to connect all the voids we witnessed there among the school students. Mind map to solve the  common problems of rural government school students is depicted below in the Chart 1. A young mind  gets inspired by experiencing role models. Its only when one observes benchmarks of success can one  even think about it. Next it is planned to organize a “Can do” workshop for them. A young mind gets  energized and further encouraged by recognition in a larger group. Volunteers from selected colleges in  and around the school are identified to handle the workshop and further interactive sessions. The school  students can open up themselves easily with the volunteers as their brothers and sisters.  Later it is  planned to have two hour weekly sessions to the school students in the school itself.

Chart 1: Mind Mapping to frame the structured solution for under privileged rural school students

interacting with  inspiring person

•They will get confidence •A young mind gets inspired by experiencing role models •when one observes benchmarks of success can one even think about it

Can do workshop  for class 9 students

•Encouraging them to dream big and with conviction,

through annual workshops • Unleash the Potential •"Seed" the thought of looking beyond their immediate

environment

summit classes by

volunteers

•Empowering students with self- enrichment programs during

weekends • Mentoring Programme by

Professional volunteers

Solutions to the rural  under privileged  government school  student’s common  problems

Personality  Development  classes    To  encompass

Communication  skills,

confidence-building,  memory skills, active  team  work,  public

speaking and leadership  skills

Positive  personality  game, Mind  mapping, Pattern  recognition

Insight and Approach

I have learnt that once we understand the mind mapping tool of design thinking, we can apply this

to solve any problem. If we practice this tool format to take notes, we can develop our conventions for  taking them further. It allows us to think creatively and provide new connections between ideas. For sure,  I will be using this tool continuously. We can also cross verify the solutions we found in the conventional  methods for any complex problems. Also, this tool will help us to get better feedback for the solution we  identified and do the same in well ahead of the deadline.

I will recommend this tool to all my colleagues and friends. And ask for their advice and feedback for the  same. This tool will help me to justify my solution in a better way for problem that I solved.

