Text in italics should be read aloud to participants. As you engage your unit (post or club) in activities each week, please include comments, discussions, and feedback to the group relating to Character, Leadership, and Ethics. These are important attributes that make a difference in the success of youth in the workplace and in life.
Explorers and leaders should complete their corresponding First Day Surveys online (links below) to understand their interests and skill level prior to starting the iTech post.
NOTE: There is also a Last Day Survey that should be submitted online after the completion of the IDC.
Explorers will receive an introduction to the process of Innovation. In this approach, a team of individuals works together to identify opportunities for creating value (ideas), and works together to evaluate which, if any, of those ideas hold potential to create benefit for society. Teams will find that their original ideas are a starting point and allow them to further explore potential ideas. By exploring their ideas in more detail, Explorers will finalize an idea that makes sense to pursue.
Say: What does it mean to create value for your community? How do we know that an idea will solve a problem?
Discuss what value means with Explorers. We often think of creating value as solving a problem. We should evaluate the value of an idea based on its ability to create social or economic value. This means that we consider the costs and benefits of a proposed idea for solving the problem. It’s also important to think about the other options for solving the same problem.
Watch the short video “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek. If you don’t have access to YouTube or a projector, Explorers can watch individually on their smartphone.
Say: Think about a problem in your life that you would like to solve. Discuss with a partner and brainstorm some solutions. How can you use the process in the video to generate stronger solutions?
Explorers will receive an introduction to the process of Innovation. In this approach, a team of individuals works together to identify opportunities for creating value (ideas), and works together to evaluate which, if any, of those ideas hold potential to create benefit for society. Teams will find that their original ideas are a starting point and allow them to further explore potential ideas. By exploring their ideas in more detail, Explorers will finalize an idea that makes sense to pursue.
Say: What does it mean to create value for your community? How do we know that an idea will solve a problem?
Discuss what value means with Explorers. We often think of creating value as solving a problem. We should evaluate the value of an idea based on its ability to create social or economic value. This means that we consider the costs and benefits of a proposed idea for solving the problem. It’s also important to think about the other options for solving the same problem.
Watch the short video “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek. If you don’t have access to YouTube or a projector, Explorers can watch individually on their smartphone.
Say: Think about a problem in your life that you would like to solve. Discuss with a partner and brainstorm some solutions. How can you use the process in the video to generate stronger solutions?
Say: With a partner, go through the three steps of Ideation. Identify an idea that solves a social problem and determine if it will create meaningful value.
Say: What assumptions are you making about your solution?
During Exploration, you will research each challenge until one proves that the idea is unworkable. When a challenge proves the idea is unworkable, the team can discard the idea and move onto the next idea or modify their idea. Explorers are learning to adapt through this process and quickly move to a successful idea.
Either way, the processes starts from the beginning. The process ends when all challenges for an idea are reviewed and the idea still seems to make sense. This is an adaptable mindset and leads to success!
Say: Why should we view change as a positive thing? What do we learning from adapting quickly?
Say: With your partner, create a list of challenges to your idea. What challenges will disprove your idea? What will prevent your idea from being successful?
Say: Rank your challenges based on the most likely to disprove their idea to least likely.
After Explorers have ranked their challenges, they will reference the Idea Validation Checklist and answer the questions. This guide will help Explorers to determine if their idea is worth pursuing. If they are unsure of the answer, they should spend time researching or brainstorming.
If Explorers still have difficulty in answering the questions, they should choose a new idea and repeat the Exploration process.
Once Explorers finalize an idea, they should write 2 – 3 sentences explaining their idea in more detail.
Some sample questions are below. They are designed to help the participants apply what they have learned to their own interests. You are welcome to use these questions or develop your own questions that relate to your unit or specific focus area.
Content for this session provided by John Evans and Kiwi Compute (www.kiwicompute.com).
Links to other websites are provided for your convenience and information only. When you click on a link to another website, you will be leaving this website. The fact that we provide links to other websites does not mean that we endorse, authorize, or sponsor the linked website, or that we are affiliated with that website’s owners or sponsors. Unless otherwise indicated, the linked sites are not under our control and we are not responsible for and assume no liability for the content or presentation of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Your use of a linked site and its content is at your sole risk and may be subject to restrictions and/or limitations. Always take care to abide by the linked site’s terms of use, including any permission requirements/guidelines.