Design Thinking for Innovation – AIA  Student: Medo Uddin

FINAL ASSIGNMENT: DESIGN THINKING TOOL – STORYTELLING

CHALLENGE

I’m working as a Technology Enhanced Learning consultant in the Centre for Educational Innovation at a

Business School. One of our strategic goals as a department is assist teachers to introduce student

centred methodologies in the classroom. Many of them, although usually are working with method

case, mainly use a classic lecture approach in their courses. A year ago, we ran a pilot study with some

teachers particularly motivated and interested in innovation & technology that decide to participate in

the project. Each teacher had to select a little part (one session/topic/module) of his/her course and

introduce some innovations (a new student-centred methodology, renewed learning materials,

multimedia or storytelling based... etc.). That test worked reasonably well and resulted in many lessons

learned and many things to avoid as well, but, in the end, the main question was: It Will be possible to

transfer these experiences and learnings and involve all the teachers and entire institution

(stakeholders) into project?

SELECTION

We decided to try Storytelling tool, as we had amounts of audio-visual stuff, mostly interviews where

both teachers and students talk about their experiences on “innovative” courses.  We thought it would

be a good starting point to build a narrative around this project. Main issues, which could affect

implementation, were resistance to change and fear to step outside “Comfort Zone”. Therefore, this

narrative could help to pave the way, as to the first question, to implement the project.

APPLICATION

Because of aforementioned audio-visual material, we decided to make 4 video testimonials. The editing

and mixing process was made trying to answer some specific questions. On the part of faculty:

  How was the “making-of” about the innovation proposed? How the teacher implemented the

chosen methodology or innovative resource? How much time do they need? Which kind of

issues had to be faced? The “experiment”, it was successful? Was it well welcomed by

students?

Design Thinking for Innovation – AIA  Student: Medo Uddin

And on the part of students:

  How do they feel about the innovation? How was implemented in the classroom? Which were

the differences within classic/innovative approach and which one do they prefer?

The key message was that change is necessary, it’s not easy and it needs time, but it works and the final

result will be satisfactory.

Finally, two different versions were made:

Short length (2-3 minutes), designed for stake-holders and exhibition in massive events within our

institution (Annual day, Teaching & Research Day, etc.) and Social Media distribution.

Long length (4-5 minutes), designed specifically for teachers and to share with Faculty Members

interested in the project and to exhibit at academic department’s meetings, assessment and

consultancy sessions, etc.

INSIGHTS

The campaign was successful and several faculty members showed great interest to getting involved in

the project, but at the same time, some sensitive, and unplanned, issues arose, such as:

  Lack of incentives to “innovate”,

  Questions about intellectual property, that doesn’t depend on our department and should be

dealt in other forums, or

  some concerns regarding “digitalization” in general

These insights were very valuable to refocus the strategy, reinforcing some messages to “fight”

misgivings and address Faculty worries to senior management.

APPROACH

We knew right from the start that storytelling would be the “perfect” choice that, given the nature of

the project very, “feelings/experiences” based, we thought “Visualizations” and “Mind Mapping” maybe

could not fit in. Regarding to “Learning Launch”, at that time we have piloted the pre-project and, in

certain way, both approaches are very similar.

