Design thinking - Storytelling to solve the problem

Challenge:

To understand elements that lead to success in higher education among first generation and  low-income students.

Selection:

Listening to and empathizing with their needs, I gained enormous ​insights into the types of

support services​ and ​mentoring​ first gens feel will help them navigate the academic and social

challenges they face from the time they complete high school throughout college. Anxiety and

bewilderment are patterns of behavior I found among first generation low-income students when

they share stories about their first encounter with campus culture. Many feel like outsiders,

confused by the academy’s social and academic expectations.

Application:

I start mind mapping about The social isolation, low self-confidence, and academic paralysis

generated by these feelings seem to melt away among first generation/low-income students

who study abroad. Why? What happens when they and their middle- and upper-middle class

peers travel to countries and experience unfamiliar cultures and languages? ​Reports ​document

changes in behaviour among first generation/low-income students: an increase in confidence,

self-efficacy, openness, perceptual acuity, resilience — general effectiveness in cross-cultural

situations.

Insight:

Are these trends anecdotal or are we really on to something? Does study abroad add value to

the college experience of first generation/low-income students in ways that are fundamentally

different from their middle- and upper-middle class peers?

Approach:

I will interview first generation/low-income students who have studied abroad and capture their

stories. I believe that listening with empathy is the first step toward explaining these unexplained

transformations.


Design thinking - Storytelling to solve the problem Challenge : To understand elements that lead to success in higher education among first generation and low - income students . Selection : Listening to and empathizing with their needs , I gained enormous ​insights into the types of support services​ and ​mentoring​ first gens feel will help them navigate the academic and social challenges they face from the time they complete high school throughout college . Anxiety and bewilderment are patterns of behavior I found among first generation low - income students when they share stories about their first encounter with campus culture . Many feel like outsiders , confused by the academy ’s social and academic expectations . Application : I start mind mapping about The social isolation , low self - confidence , and academic paralysis generated by these feelings seem to melt away among first generation / low - income students who study abroad . Why ? What happens when they and their middle- and upper - middle class peers travel to countries and experience unfamiliar cultures and languages ? ​Reports ​document changes in behaviour among first generation / low - income students : an increase in confidence , self - efficacy , openness , perceptual acuity , resilience — general effectiveness in cross - cultural situations . Insight : Are these trends anecdotal or are we really on to something ? Does study abroad add value to the college experience of first generation / low - income students in ways that are fundamentally different from their middle- and upper - middle class peers ? Approach : I will interview first generation / low - income students who have studied abroad and capture their stories . I believe that listening with empathy is the first step toward explaining these unexplained transformations .