IDEATE - DESIGN THINKING: TATIANA TAVARES

1. IDEATE
DESIGN THINKING ACTION LAB
SCHOOL-WORK TRANSITION
T A T I A N A T A V A R E S

2. STEP 1

3. PROBLEM STATEMENT
LECTURER
(HONEST, CHEERFUL. CARING,
EXPERIENCED, DEDICATED)
NEEDS A WAY TO
GUIDE STUDENTS ON THE
SCHOOL-WORK TRANSITION
BECAUSE
STUDENTS HAVE AN UNREALISTIC
EXPECTATION AND SCHOOLS DON’T PREPARE
THEM TO THE WORK ENVIRONMENT.

4. CONTRACT
LECTURERS
WITH MORE
WORK
EXPERIENCE
SCHOOL
SHOULD
GIVE LESS
GUIDANCE,
LIKE IN THE
INDUSTRY
IMPLEMENT
A MODULE
ABOUT
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
AT SCHOOL
CHANGE
ROOLS OF
STUDENTS AND
LECTURERS
(SOMETIMES
STUDENTS CAN
BE THE BOSS)
ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO BE
AN OBSERVER FOR ONE-DAY /
MONTH IN THE INDUSTRY
INVITE GUEST LECTURERS AND
EX-STUDENTS TO TALK ABOUT
THEIR EXPERIENCES.
CREATE A FORM:
STUDENTS LIST
EXPECTATIONS
AND LECTURERS
EXPLAIN REALITY
OF INDUSTRY
CREATE
A BLOG
WITH DAILY
REPORTS FROM
STUDENTS.
RUN THE LAST YEAR AT SCHOOL
AS A WORK ENVIRONMENT
ONE-ON-ONE SECTION
WITH LECTURERS BEFORE
STUDENTS GRADUATE.
STUDENTS SUBMIT
THEIR DREAM JOB
AND HOW THEY
ARE PLANNING TO
ACHIEVE IT
REAL-LIFE
BRIEFS WITH
ASSESSMENT
DONE BY
EMPLOYERS.
MOTIVATE STUDENTS TO STUDY
PART-TIME AND WORK PART-TIME
AT THE INDUSTRY.
EX-STUDENTS WRITE LETTERS
ABOUT BEFORE AND AFTER AND
LECTURERS CAN READ IN CLASS
(WHAT IT WAS EXPECTED AND
WHAT CHANGED)
INVOLVE
PARENTS IN
EARLY AGE
TO INSTRUCT
STUDENTS IN
A TRANSITION
PLAN.
LOOKING FOR
JOB-RELATED
ON HOLIDAYS.
ENCOURAGE
STUDENTS TO
CREATE THEIR OWN
TRANSITION PLAN.
COLLECT
INFO ABOUT
STUDENTS
INTERESTS AND
ABILITIES AND
WHICH SKILLS
/ EXPERIENCES
DO THEY NEED
TO REACH
THESE GOALS
19 IDEAS

5. HELP
STUDENTS
WRITING
RESUME,
CAPITALIZE
THEIR
STRENGTHS
AND HOW TO
STEP INTO
WORKFORCE
WITH
CONFIDENCE.
CREATE A DIAGRAM
ABOUT THE STEPS
OF WORK-SCHOOL
TRANSITION
CREATE A GUIDE
ABOUT THE SCHOOL-
WORK TRANSITION
WITH CASE-STUDIES.
MAKE
STUDENTS
ACCEPT THE
FACT THAT
THE FIRST JOB
IS THE MOST
CHALLENGE.
VOCATIONAL
EDUCATION
AT EARLY
AGE (BEFORE
COMING TO
SCHOOL)
1ST YEAR
STUDENTS
NEED TO VISIT
COMPANIES AND
DO INTERVIEW
AS A SCHOOL
EXERCISE.
REAL-LIFE
BRIEFS WITH
ASSESSMENT
DONE BY
EMPLOYERS.
TEACH SOME
LEVEL OF
INDEPENDENCE
SUCH AS LIFE
SKILLS, SELF-
ADVOCACY SKILLS,
RESPONSIBILITY
SKILLS.
ALLOW STUDENTS TO BE SELF-DIRECTED
AND USE LANGUAGE AND PROCEDURES
THAT TEACH THEM HOW TO DO THAT.
CREATE A EVERYDAY
SCHEDULE AT SCHOOL
AND IMPLEMENT
REALISTIC WORK
RELATED TIME FOR
WORK ACTIVITIES.
TEACHER
EXPECTATIONS
SHOULD BE
HIGHER SIMILAR
WITH INDUSTRY
(SPECIALLY IN THE
LAST YEAR)
CHANGE THE
CURRICULUM
FOR MORE
GUIDANCE
AFTER SCHOOL.
CREATE
ASSIGNMENTS
SIMULATING
STUDIO WORK.
GIVE TRAINING
TO COMPANIES
THAT INTEND TO
HAVE TRAINEES.
BRING A
PSYCHOLOGIST /
CONCEALER TO WORK
WITH STUDENTS IN
THE LAST YEAR.
CREATE A MOBILE APP WHERE
STUDENTS CAN DESCRIBE THEIR
DAILY-LIFE OR EXPERIENCE IN
HIS/HER FIRST JOB.
PLATFORM WHERE
STUDENTS CAN HAVE
A DIRECT CHAT WITH
LECTURER WHEN NOT
SURE WHAT TO DO.
17 IDEAS

6. PRE-TRAINING:
EMPLOYERS
MONITOR
STUDENTS
WHEN THEY
ARE STILL AT
SCHOOL FOR
POTENTIAL
EMPLOYMENT.
HAVE A WEEKLY
GROUP DISCUSSING
WITH INVITED
GUESTS.
MATRIX: FEED THE
INFORMATION
DIRECTLY INTO MY
BRAIN.
CREATE
ELECTIVE
WORKSHOPS
ABOUT
DIFFERENT
AREAS OF
PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT,
SUCH AS
BUDGETING,
SELF-
ASSESSMENT,
OPENING A
BUSINESS,
BEHAVIOURS,
WORK ETHICS,
ETC.
SCHOOL
FACEBOOK
PAGE
DISCUSSING
THE
TRANSITION
ASK EMPLOYERS
/ COMPANIES
TO PARTICIPATE
IN STUDENTS
ASSIGNMENT
AND / OR DAILY
EXERCISES.
ENCOURAGE
STUDENTS TO
HAVE A PERSONAL
DIARY WITH THEIR
EMOTIONAL
STRUGGLES.
ASK THE STUDENTS
TO BE ORGANISERS
OF THEIR OPENING
SHOW FOR END OF
THE COURSE (SO
THEY UNDERSTAND
MANAGEMENT
SKILLS)
INDUSTRY MARK STUDENTS WORK IN THE
END OF THE YEAR. INDUSTRY SUPPLY THE
BRIEF AND BEST PERFORMANCE STUDENTS
CAN GET A JOB.
MENTORSHIP.
FINDING SOMEONE
FROM INDUSTRY TO
GUIDE STUDENTS
WHEN THEY ARE
STILL AT SCHOOL
PRE-TRAINING:
EMPLOYERS
MONITOR STUDENTS
WHEN THEY ARE
STILL AT SCHOOL
FOR POTENTIAL
EMPLOYMENT.
AN MOBILE
APP THAT CAN
GIVE RANDOM
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS.
TURNING
LECTURER INTO
A CARRIER
GUIDE.
CREATE A
SPACE WHERE
STUDENTS
CAN RUN BY
THEMSELVES
(LIKE A WORK
ENVIRONMENT)
INSTANT HELP DESK WITH
PROFILE OF STUDENTS AND
ANSWERS IN A SHORT SPACE
OF TIME.
‘TRANSPORTABLE’ OR ‘STOP TIME’
SYSTEM WHERE STUDENTS CAN
CONTACT LECTURERS AND ASK
QUESTIONS.
16 IDEAS

7. BRING
RECRUITMENT
AGENCIES
INTO THE
CLASSROOMS.
A GUIDE
ABOUT WORK
ETHICS.
CREATE A BOOK
GUIDE WITH THE
STEPS OF SCHOOL-
WORK TRANSITION.
AN OPEN
DAY WHERE
INDUSTRY
COMES AND
LOOK AT THE
STUDENT
PORTFOLIOS
BEFORE THEY
GRADUATE.
CREATE A
PROGRAM
CALLED
‘FIRST JOB
CHALLENGE’
THAT STUDENTS
PARTICIPATE
AND BECOME
INSPIRATION
FOR OTHERS.
DO A
QUESTIONNAIRE
THAT STUDENT
FILL IN THAT
IDENTIFY FAILURE
ON THEIR WORK
ETHICS.
SIMULATING
REAL INTERVIEWS
BETWEEN STUDENTS,
LECTURERS AND
GUESTS. STUDENTS
NEED TO DRESS-
UP, ANSWER
QUESTIONS, ETC.
INSPIRE
STUDENTS
TO DO A
THEATRICAL PLAY
ABOUT WORK
ETHICS.
CREATE A REPORT
SYSTEM AS PART
OF SCHOOL
ASSESSMENT
WHERE STUDENTS
NEED TO SEEK
THEMSELVES FOR
INDUSTRY RELATED
JOBS IN FORM OF
VOLUNTARY WORK,
FREELANCE, PAID/
UNPAID SMALL JOB,
ETC AND DESCRIBE
THEIR EXPERIENCE
WITH THE CLIENT
OR BOSS.
A ‘GOD’
COMING
FROM SKY
AND GIVING
HOPE TO
STUDENTS.
CREATE A
BOARD GAME
/ VIDEO GAME
ABOUT WORK
ENVIRONMENT.
GIVE A
CERTIFICATE OF
ACHIEVEMENT
FOR A ELECTIVE
COURSE
THAT HELPS
STUDENTS TO
GET OBS AND
IT’S VALIDATE BY
THE INDUSTRY
ASK STUDENTS TO
DEFINE THEMSELVES
AS A PROFESSIONAL
IN FORM OF VISUAL
MOODBOARDS.
INSPIRE
STUDENTS TO
WORK FOR
THEMSELVES
OR HOW
TO OPEN
THEIR OWN
BUSINESS.
BRING BOSSES
AND LECTURERS
TOGETHER
TEACHING
AS PART OF
FACULTY.
A NEW SCHOOL
THAT IS MORE
RELATED TO THE
INDUSTRY.
16 IDEAS

8. INVOLVE
PARENTS:
THEY CAN
WORK AS ROLE
MODELS /
TEACHERS FOR
POST-SCHOOL
OPTIONS.
CREATE A FREE
EMPLOYER
ENVIRONMENT
OR A SYSTEM OF
GRATIFICATION
FREE OF HASSLE
CREATE ‘MY
FIRST JOB
EXPERIENCE
WEBSITE’ WHERE
STUDENTS CAN
TELL THEIR
NEGATIVE
AND POSITIVE
EXPERIENCES
LECTURERS CAN VISIT
DIFFERENT COMPANIES
EVERY DAY AND BRING
TO THE CLASSROOM
WHAT’S HAPPENING
RIGHT NOW AT THE
INDUSTRY.
A PLATFORM WHERE
EMPLOYERS CAN GIVE
SUGGESTION TO THE
STUDENTS BASED ON
THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH
RECENT GRADUATES.
A WEB PLATFORM WHERE
EMPLOYERS AND STUDENTS
HAVE PROFILES AND CAN
COMMUNICATE (QUESTION AND
ANSWERS, CREATE PROFILES,
POST PERMANENT JOBS,
FREELANCER, ETC)
6 IDEAS
TOTAL:
74 IDEAS

9. STEP 2

10. 1. THE MOST PRACTICAL IDEA
SCHOOL-WORK TRANSITION KIT
A GUIDE / KIT* WITH GUIDELINES FOR LECTURES
AND STUDENTS ABOUT THE WORK-SCHOOL TRANSITION
*KIT can include videos, ideas for practical workshops and briefs/exercises.
PS: This pack should be directed related to the discipline investigated —in this case the Creative Industry,
Graphic and Web design, Motion graphics, 3D Animation, Games and Advertising.
This pack is versatile might include workshops such as:
• Help to students writing resume, capitalizing their strengths
and how to step into workforce with confidence.
• Interviews, presentation of portfolios.
• Create a form: students list expectations and lecturers explain reality of industry.
• Do a time management plan for study hours.
• Questionnaire that students can fill out that can identify failure
on their behaviour and Work Ethics.

11. 2. THE MOST DISRUPTIVE IDEA
BRIDGING SCHOOL-WORK ENVIRONMENTS
CREATE A WORKSPACE AT SCHOOL IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN
BE AUTONOMOUS. THEY CAN WORK WITH EMPLOYERS / CLIENT
IN REAL-LIFE AND/OR FREELANCE PAID JOBS BEFORE LEAVING SCHOOL.
This exercise could be part of school assignments with an overall grade is given by
educator and client/employer. Students can report their experience and progress
and be graded in terms of relationships with client, budget for printing, time
allocation, behaviour, work ethics, methodology, etc.
CONCLUSION: SCHOOL NEEDS TO BRING EMPLOYERS TO THE CURRICULUM OF
SCHOOL. IT ALSO NEEDS 2 KINDS OF EDUCATORS:
THE INDUSTRY RELATED AND THE THEORY / ACADEMIC RELATED.
They can work together giving insights and briefs
that can embrace academy and industry.
PS: This idea should be related to the discipline investigated —in this case the Creative Industry,
Graphic and Web design, Motion graphics, 3D Animation, Games and Advertising.

12. 3. YOUR FAVOURITE IDEA
THE ‘FIRST JOB EXPERIENCE’
THE ‘FIRST JOB EXPERIENCE’ COULD BE A PROGRAM
CREATED BY SCHOOLS IN WHICH STUDENTS CAN
PARTICIPATE AND WIN PRIZES. STUDENTS WHO HAVE
BEEN THROUGH THEIR FIRST JOB EXPERIENCE BECOME
INSPIRATION FOR OTHERS AND NEED TO GUIDE OTHER
STUDENTS ON THE SCHOOL-WORK TRANSITION
(IN FORM OF MENTORSHIP).
This project could work in conjunction as a web platforom where students / employers communicate
and talk about the ‘first job experience’ —which can be the hardest part of the transition. Employers
and students can communicate in form of question and answers, create profiles, post permanent and
freelance job, hire recet graduates, etc.
PS: This idea doesn’t necessary needs to be related to the initial discipline investigated —
in this case the Creative Industry: Graphic and Web design, Motion graphics, 3D Animation, Games and Advertising.