As I was aware of “the context of the MACAL program that is to orientate and develop learning capacities while working with the complex challenges intrinsic in the climate change field” (Corman & Cox, 2020), I thought these challenges would be external, such as facts studied in a classroom. The importance of knowing oneself to face most of the problems of this world was unknown until recently.<\/p>\n
The teamwork behind the Design Thinking Challenge<\/a> (DTC) has taken a prominent place in my learning journey and my life in general! My teammates would agree: the experience is a roller-coaster! Over the past year, several elements have come to play with this assignment: the learning to work with a team in a school context, the flexibility required to do synchronous and asynchronous work, the importance of respect and good communication, and the need to enjoy the process. Being part of a team for an extended period brought my leadership skills to another level. The DTC creates a variety of emotions such as empowerment, anger, happiness, disappointment, and hope! It is not a surprise because, in Western society, we learn to do more, go fast, succeed alone against others, and come up with a win-win solution. The DTC does not allow this formula to happen because of its collaborative and iterative approach. DTC challenges the status quo that we, individuals, know and find comforting; furthermore, it can be frustrating! The essence of the DTC is not a linear progression; that complicates an already complex situation. Panke (2019) summarizes it well: “the essence of design thinking is to put participants into contexts that make them think and work like an expert designer, and thereby foster civic literacy, empathy, cultural awareness, and risk-taking.”<\/p>\n Learning about the ability to use my voice during the team meetings, the school presentations, and the interviews were some highlights of this assignment. I gained trust in myself and my schoolmates. Solving problems with confidence creatively \u2013 that does not need to be perfect all the time \u2013 can be part of the world’s solution to climate change because it brings a starting point to work with, then everyone can add their experience and thoughts to create a better version. A good comparison could be planting a seed \u2013 something new might grow in many ways and produce none,\u00a0one, or many fruits.<\/p>\n Reflecting on the process over the past 11 months, I agree with the use of DTC in this academic program and see the potential to implement similar work in climate action. Panke, among others, cites the potential of this activity in education, such as implicit experiences, more empathy, less cognitive bias, learning in a playful and “flow” way, failure seen as valuable, unexpected solutions, and innovative confidence. (2019) This process was undoubtedly uncomfortable: I can better relate to its properties now that its end is coming. I needed some space to see what happened on the inside from the outside. While creating the final presentation, all the pieces come together. It is easier to see where we started and how many steps led to the ultimate product. This product can still evolve in the future.<\/p>\n The prototype created for the DTC integrates community and nature as the solution’s core. We followed one of the recommendations from Reid et al. when working with the Indigenous BC Community of Gitga’at: “finding ways to generate community interest in adaptation planning involves providing equal weight to traditional or local knowledge and expert technical knowledge” (2014). Our team set the stage to include many voices with equity in our quest to encourage the public to become actively engaged in climate action; it brings inspiration and a foundation for other projects.<\/p>\n The award-winning author in Okanagan, Stan Chung, once said: “what you think you understand is often the last place to find your treasure. Instead, go exactly where a person like you would never look.” (2011). In exploring other worldviews and challenging my own bias, I realize how powerful all teachings are (from colleagues, interviewees, and readings). The most significant learning? Differences bring us together; we shall find them and listen.<\/p>\n A child looking at a hummingbird. A teacher can be everyone and everywhere.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n References<\/strong><\/p>\n Chun, S. (2011). Global citizen: River of love and other essays<\/em>. Okanagan Institute.<\/p>\n Corman, I. & Cox, R. (2020) Transdisciplinary Thinking in the context of the MACAL program. Royal Roads University.\u00a0 https:\/\/commons.royalroads.ca\/macal\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/88\/2021\/04\/MACAL_Transdisciplinary_Thinking03-31-21-3.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n Panke, S. (2019). Design Thinking in Education: Perspectives, Opportunities and Challenges. Open Education Studies<\/em>, 1<\/em>(1), 281-306. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1515\/edu-2019-0022<\/a><\/p>\n Reid, M.,\u00a0Hamilton, C.,\u00a0 Reid, S.,\u00a0Trousdale, W., Hill, C., Turner, N.,\u00a0 Picard, C., Lamontagne, C.,\u00a0&\u00a0Matthews, H.D. (2014)\u00a0“Indigenous climate change adaptation planning using a values-focused approach: A case study with the Gitga’at Nation<\/em>”\u00a0Journal of Ethnobiology\u00a034(3), 401-424. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2993\/0278-0771-34.3.401<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Doubts and late nights working on assignments were expected when I decided to go back to school. However, the camaraderie, the collaboration, and the transformation that came with this master’s degree were an agreeable surprise. Still considering myself a beginner… Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":958,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[50,31],"class_list":["post-418","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cals501","tag-design-thinking","tag-leadership"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/958"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=418"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":425,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/418\/revisions\/425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=418"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=418"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=418"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"baby,](\"https:\/\/webspace.royalroads.ca\/n1prevostmaurice\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/910\/2021\/09\/baby-hummingbird-nature-6567509-150x150.jpg\")