| Title | Taming wicked problems using strategic design: Preparing students to be effective innovators |
|---|---|
| Faculty/College/Unit | Arts |
| Status | Completed |
| Duration | 2 Year |
| Initiation | 04/01/2017 |
| Completion | 03/31/2019 |
| Funding Details | |
| Year 1: Project Year | Year 1 |
| Year 1: Funding Year | 2017/2018 |
| Year 1: Project Type | Small TLEF |
| Year 1: Principal Investigator | Tamara Baldwin |
| Year 1: Funded Amount | 31,782 |
| Year 1: Team Members | Tamara Baldwin, Associate Director, Office of Regional and International Community Engagement, Faculty of Arts |
| Year 1: Summary | Wicked problems are societal issues that are heavily laden with politics and value judgments, and students should graduate knowing how to identify, navigate and participate in solving these complex issues. This project will foster students’ ability to address wicked problems by a) building their strategic design skill set and b) creating opportunities for students to engage with real wicked problems from international development contexts. To realize these objectives, this project will create online toolkits, a senior-level seminar, and strengthen the network of students, faculty, and staff working with strategic design or wicked problems. This project also lays the foundation for developing a large-enrolment, junior-level course related to strategic design and wicked problems, generating a sustainable learning pathway for students. The project is embedded within existing international partnerships stewarded by the Office of Regional and International Community Engagement (ORICE) and builds upon expertise gained through enacting Strategic Design Methodology in existing design courses. |
| Year 2: Project Year | Year 2 |
| Year 2: Funding Year | 2018/2019 |
| Year 2: Project Type | Small TLEF |
| Year 2: Principal Investigator | Tom Scholte |
| Year 2: Funded Amount | 18,218 |
| Year 2: Team Members | Tom Scholte, Associate Professor, Theatre and Film, Faculty of Arts |
| Year 2: Summary | Wicked problems are nonlinear societal issues that are heavily laden with politics and contesting value judgment, (e.g. climate change). The second year of this project will continue to foster students’ abilities to address wicked problems throughout their future careers by a) building their skills in the use of design methodologies and b) creating opportunities to engage with real wicked problems from international development contexts stewarded by the Office of Regional and International Community Engagement (ORICE). To realize these objectives, this project will expand the Strategic Design Methods (SDM) online toolkit for students and staff, offer the second iteration of the senior-level wicked problems seminar (ASTU 401G), and strengthen the network of students, faculty, and staff working with design methods or wicked problems. This project also lays the foundation for a large-enrolment, second-year design methods course (ASTU 2XX), contributing to the aim for a community-engaged Pathway. |