Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Ambrose Hans G. Aggabao, PHD Ruby L. Mamauag Koni Bernadette C. Tarayao Jaylord P. Manaud
Ambrose Hans G. Aggabao, PHD Ruby L. Mamauag Koni Bernadette C. Tarayao Jaylord P. Manaud
Ambrose Hans G. Aggabao, PHD Ruby L. Mamauag Koni Bernadette C. Tarayao Jaylord P. Manaud
Aggabao, PhD
Ruby L. Mamauag
Koni Bernadette C. Tarayao
Jaylord P. Manaud
Institutional Elective 2 - Critical and Creative Thinking Page|i
CCT is a course designed for the development of critical and creative thinking skills among
students. It uses the design thinking process as a platform for meaningful and effective
innovation and entrepreneurship. CCT is offered as a 2 unit course (1 unit lecture and 1 unit
laboratory (innovation lab) that guides students in the exercise of CCT as they pursue specific
problem solutions over the regular 18-week semester.
The University in addition to promoting the university for people and nature, now focuses its
efforts on developing graduates to become innovators and entrepreneurs. CCT and
Entrepreneurship course responds to this call and is inspired by the departure from the usual
notion that graduates are designed to be employed. Rather, graduates must equally be prepared
to become employers themselves and contribute to the alleviation of unemployment and
poverty.
Authors:
LEARNING OUTCOME
In this module, you will learn more about the 1st Phase of the PIPE model of Design Thinking: Purpose
-Empathetic Understanding. After completing this module, you should be able to:
LEARNING CONTENT
THE Phase 1- Purpose BUILDS ON exploration phase that takes off from the quest to dig on for what
inspires people to get engaged in the innovation process. It employs the designer’s CRITICAL
THINKING on the design space for problem recognition, problem definition, and as the designers get
high level of empathetic understanding of the problem, guide exploration into the solution space by
enacting the ideation phase of the design process.
Learning to think in critically, analytical and evaluative ways means using mental processes such as
focusing, categorizing, selecting, and judging. It is an analytic-evaluative process to support informed
decision making.
Critical thinking requires a predisposition to be critically analytic in the process of making sense of
arguments and logic and rendering informed decisions and judgments in an effort to make a well-
reasoned, clear and responsive conclusion.
The quest for purpose involves ability to get to know the user (community), recognize and define their
problem using critical thinking and empathetic understanding. An innovation is bound to be useless
unless we understand, connect and care for the user (community). This is empathetic understanding.
NOTE: The class will be divided into teams with 10 members each, preferably
members coming from same area/barangay/town to work on your projects.
In this step you may start looking for possible projects that you will work on. Identify a problem or
issue in your community that is close to your heart. Who do you want to help? Why do you want to
help them? Describe using the graphics below.
PROBLEM/ISSUE
What is currently
What factors What is the
being done to
contribute to the problem/issue
address the
problem? about?
problem?
Conduct an online research to gather preliminary information about the problem and issue. Is this
problem happening in other places? Take note, you are not supposed to think of any solution at this
point. You are doing this to understand more the problem/ issues around your user.
Combine the information you gathered from Step 1 and Step 2. At this point, you are now ready to
identify the problem and craft your problem statement!
Sample:
How can we help the students of ISU to become more effective self-directed learners?
How can we encourage the Cabaguenos to reduce plastic wastes?
ACTIVITY 1
Problem Statement:
The main goal of this process is to gain deeper understanding and connection with the community.
How do you get to know the people involved in the issues/problems in the community? How can you
connect with them?
Have this in your mind always: PUT YOURSELVES INTO THE USER’S SHOES.
1. Observation
2. Interview
Observation
The purpose of this method is to use AEIOU and POEMS observation technique as tools for empathy
study. During field observation, record observations under appropriate headings.
AEIOU Technique:
Activities
Environment
Interactions
Objects
Users
POEMS Technique:
Interview
Use interview as a technique to clarify observations and assumptions. This is your opportunity to dig
deeper into the inner thoughts and feelings of the user.
It is best to conduct face-to-face interviews to discover your user and their needs. During the
interview:
You may conduct interviews in pairs or groups of three. Decide on the role each member is to play
(interviewer, note-taker, observer).
A mix of both Type A & B questions are important during interviews. Type A questions helps to keep
your interviewees at ease while you build rapport with him/her before moving into ‘tougher’ Type B
questions which unravels deeper information. Type B questions will aim to evoke stories and explore
emotions. Conclude with Type A questions as you end your conversation.
Interviews are not surveys. Do not ask a list of questions. Build on the answers of your interviewees.
ACTIVITY 2
1. Prepare your guide questions prior to the conduct of your interview using the template below:
• From the interview data, write down points you think are interesting or significant.
• Write one data point in one sentence. Do not summarize or interpret. Use word for word,
as supplied by the interviewee.
Note: Team Leader may split the team into 3 after this step to create 3 micro-groups before
proceeding to Process 2.
• One team member will exchange data points to another team member.
• The partner will highlight the most useful data by putting an asterisk (*) to the data point.
• Each data point with an asterisk will be used in the next step.
Activity 3
1. Describe in 1-2 sentences the clustered information based on data points. This will be the
insight.
INSIGHT: Reflection of each cluster (what does the clustered information tell you?)
Need 1:
Need 2:
Need 3:
• It is NOT a solution.
Bad example: I need money for internet connection to study during the new normal.
Better example: I need flexible learning opportunities to study during the new normal.
• It addresses a gap.
• It addresses your project statement.
Remember, you are now identifying the needs which will be addressed/ given solution in the next
phase (IDEATION).
Persona is a profile which will serve as a reference & inspiration throughout the solution
development. It represents the community/ users you are working with.
Personas are more than just demographic information, a persona needs to capture the person’s
behavior, beliefs, motivations & pain points.
Sample Persona
ASSESSMENT TASK
1. Create your own persona based on the information and data you gathered. You may use the
sample template as your reference.
2. Present the Persona to the class via the prescribed videoconferencing platform.
REFERENCES
Berengueres, J. 2013. The Brown Book of Design Thinking. A Workshop Based Approach. University
of UAE.
The Essential Guide to Design Thinking. University of Virginia. Darden Executive Education.
Design Thinking. The Guide Book. Royal Civil Service Commission (Bhutan) in collaboration with
Singapore Polytechnic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiD33_6-NAM- Empathy