IDEAhub

IDEAhub Prototypes

The Design Thinking process is the framework by which the IDEAhub team designed its way forward to a comprehensive set of proposed ideas to be prototyped and tested over the next year. The Design Thinking process, developed by the Stanford d.school in the 1950’s, is defined by iterative periods of exploration, problem definition, and brainstorming (flare) followed by periods of prototyping and testing (focus). It is an ideal process for advancing innovative change and is characterized by mindsets such as curiosity, celebrating failure, creative confidence, and bias for action; these are the same mindsets we’d like to see our students embrace, thus allowing us all to become true role models for 21st Century Education.

Prototyping and testing for the 2020-2021 academic year

IDEAs proposals were selected for their alignment with the goals/vision of one of the IDEAhub working groups, including:

  1. Their potential for cultivating (or assessing) 21st-century skills, behaviors, and mindsets in students
  2. Their ability to allow IDEA hub to test an aspect of its vision for Next-Gen Gen Ed, First-Year Experience, Interdisciplinary Education, or Global and Community engagement (for example, short-term courses; centralized advising for first-year students; interdisciplinary, team-taught courses around a theme or challenge; experiential learning; holistic assessment of new learning goals; interdisciplinary teaching & learning)
  3. Their ability to help us address challenges/opportunities associated with Flex Fall, and moving forward in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis

Prototypes for 2020-2021

Title

Purpose

Involved Domains

Project Leads
College of Computing Community Building Regular themed gatherings that will introduce students to support services, build community, and create a coordinated approach to advising. First-year experience Kay Oliver
Denise Landsberg
Study Away Student Ambassador Program Grow global and off-campus programs, promoting integrative and project-based learning Global and community engagement Carl Blair
Information Literacy Modules Develop a series of "plug-and-play" Canvas modules instructing students in a variety of information literacy concepts. Investigate stackable credentials and flexible integration of core concepts. All domains

Nancy Barr

Jenn Sams
Essential Ed Pathways and Integrative Experience Develop a pathway of "sustainable communities:" project-based, integrative, interdisciplinary approach to general education. Interdisciplinary education Stefka Hristova
Living Laboratory for Sustainability and Resilience Provide students with information about how to live more efficiently, sustainably, and comfortably in residence halls. Sustainability pathway, self authorship.  All domains Chelsea Schelley
Flip Calculus into Scientific Modeling Re-imagine the calculus courses for the internet age, changing the student experience of calculus into a flipped classroom where scientific modeling is primary. First-year experience David Olson
Reflection Protocol for Gen Ed Courses Modular reflection protocol for use in essential ed courses. Holistic assessment; testing new learning goals; integrating curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular experiences.  All domains Maria Bergstrom
Laura Fiss
GivePulse Platform to Community Engagement Connections Create a centralized list of community partner opportunities, facilitating engagement with community partners. First-year experience
Global and Community Engagement 		Kari Henquinet
Dar Slade
Jessie Stapleton
Local Literacy Teaching and Learning at Michigan Tech Module focused on local literacy that is inclusive of the significance of place and the people here at Michigan Tech.  All domains Val Gagnon
Erika Vye
Programming Skills in Engineering Fundamentals Flexible, modularized approach to delivering core science and math concepts, and algorithmic thinking. First-year experience Briana Bettin
Michelle Jarvie-Eggart
Nature Psychology Course with Health and Wellness Outcomes Interdisciplinary education, team teaching, project-based learning, sustainability pathway Interdisciplinary education Samantha Smith
Humanistic Practical Engineering Teaching connections between humanities and engineering through challenge that is based on real world issues and concerns First-year experience Chris Middlebrook
Interdisciplinary Environmental Issues Course Team teaching around a theme, interdisciplinary education, holistic assessment Interdisciplinary education Scott Marratto
Critical Ethics for Enterprise Accessible but ethically sophisticated units to teach critical philosophical ethics to students in Enterprise  All domains Alexandra Morrison
Cohorted and Coordinated First-Year Courses Coordinating themes, assignments, project, in Global Issues, Comp, Engineering Fundamentals, and other first-year courses, adding a sustainability pathway First-year experience

AJ Hamlin

Brett Hamlin

Abraham Romney

Mark Rouleau
"Pop-Up" Advising and Learning Center Coaching Coordinating advising and coaching that meets students where they are. First-year experience Brett Hamlin
Heather Simpson
Interdisciplinary Human Factors Task Force Developing templates for interdisciplinary programs such as certificates and minors. Interdisciplinary education Kelly Steelman
Jeff Wall
Humanities in the Disciplines (HD) National Endowment for the Humanities Implementation grant proposal; connect humanistic and engineering education through experimental learning. First-year experience
Interdisciplinary education
Global and community engagement 		Mary Raber
Marika Seigel