Problem Identification
If you have attempted to get a group of 9-year-olds to stay on topic while brainstorming, you know it can be like herding cats. Some of the typical challenges will be.
For all of the above and more the following tools may help to get your team back on track.
- Kids will start with a solution that doesn't solve a problem you have.
- Kids like to change the conversation so that they can talk about their personal stories.
- Kids who may not understand the expectation will start fidgeting and distract others.
- Kids will think of building or public spaces, but can't think of anything wrong with them. Everything is already perfect.
- Kids will think of solutions that are very interesting, but aren't practical.
- Kids may think it's boring just to sit and talk instead of building with Legos.
- Some kids won't contribute any ideas, but spend a lot of time criticizing others.
For all of the above and more the following tools may help to get your team back on track.
1. Find the problem statement
Many times I hear about teams spend their entire season doing a project that doesn't even meet the problem statement. It's easy for the simple problem statement to get buried in all the hype and marketing for the season. Make sure your team can identify the simple problem statement and brainstorm only building and public spaces. Use the next document to create a central node to a concept map.
| city_shaper_problem_stem_brain.pdf |
Though you can just take turns and brainstorm, some teams need more structure to stay on task and get chatty kids to commit their ideas in writing. Use the following document to create a deck of cards that will make it clear what you expect it team member to come up with. The building or public space is that "What" and the community is the "Where".
| city_shaper_who_what_when_where_cards.pdf |
If you have kids getting off topic, use the Venn diagram below to get them back a valid "What".
| city_shaper_buildings_and_public_spaces.pdf |
2. Empathize with a "who" other than the team member
Another feedback I hear often is that kids can't think of anything wrong with the buildings or public spaces that they visit. If we could all have such sheltered lives. Do a second concept map, where one "What" and "Where" is the central brain in your concept map.
| city_shaper_who_what_when_where_brain.pdf |
Use the following to create a deck of cards where you brainstorm multiple "Who"'s that would interact with that space. Only one or two should be the obvious who, but challenge your kids to think of not so obvious whos.
When they have identified a who for each card, shuffle all the cards back into the same deck and deal them out to see if they can think of the Say, Does, Thinks, Feels.
When they have identified a who for each card, shuffle all the cards back into the same deck and deal them out to see if they can think of the Say, Does, Thinks, Feels.
| city_shaper_empathy_map_cards.pdf |
3. Weigh all the possible ideas for their viability
Once some ideas are chosen in Step 1 and Step 2, add them all to a decision matrix and see if one falls out as most viable. There are multiple criteria to consider, so don't fall into the trap of just using the kid's vote and choosing a non-viable project idea. Below is some sample criteria you might want on your decision matrix to measure each idea.
Ideas |
Problem Identification |
Types of Sources |
Testability of Problem Statement |
Clear Solution |
Impact of Solution |
Innovation |
Kids' Vote |
Total |