1. Design Thinking Action Lab
Stanford University
Design Challenge: redefining school-to-work transition
Assignment #3
Empathy Map and Problem Statement
Iman Kouvalis
August 5, 2013
Problem Statement
Because there is so much competition in finding a teaching job in Ontario, Canada, graduates need a way
to set themselves apart to employers in how they make learning relevant and exciting for students.
SAY DO
1 Hardly anyone can find a job in Ontario as a full-time
teacher.
1 You need to find a way to set yourself apart.
2 Getting a job is a big process. You have to first get
on a teachers’ list.
2 You need to wow the principal. You have to be
charismatic and to know how to articulate what
you want to say.
3 You can be on the teachers’ list for up to 10 years
before getting hired.
3 Teachers are not being flexible realizing there are
no jobs in Ontario. They can move to other areas
getting a 1-2 year contract just to get their foot in
the door.
4 People told her, “Oh, you are lucky, you are all set.
You are going back to the Middle East.”
4 The mandatory practicum was the most valuable
part of the degree. That’s where you get the real
experience and where you really learn how to
teach. It’s invaluable to get feedback from the
associate and your professor. I wish it was more
and I advise the university to have more of them, 3
or 4 instead of 2. But it depends on where you are
placed. It’s a hit or miss because some teacher
associates are good and others are horrible. They
get paid extra for it but it’s peanuts so there are not
enough of them.
5 Graduates don’t know how to set themselves apart.
They need to be original, creative in the way that
they teach and construct their lesson plans and be
ready for any situation with the children, parents or
issues at school.
5 The university is moving from a 1 year to 2 year
program and may possibly incorporate more
practical training and more practicums and more
field experience working with children directly.
6 Graduates need to be flexible to do anything to on
the teachers’ list first even if they have to move out
of Ontario or Canada for a 1-2 year contract.

2. THINK FEEL
1 How do I get my foot in the door? 1 Graduates need to set themselves apart in the way
they teach. You have to be special, original and
creative.
2 Students don’t realize how much competition there
is. After finishing an undergraduate in Psychology or
Art and don’t know what to do with it, they say,
“Let me try a Bachelors in Education. I love children
and it’s only a 9 month program.” Then they realize
there are no jobs and it’s then that it really hits.
2 You have to not only love children but know how to
teach children and get through to them and make
the curriculum relevant not in a useless way. Know
how to get to the kids.
3 Classes are too theoretical sometimes. Ex. We have
to do 10 page lesson plans and don’t get to practise
them while in the field they do 1 page lesson plans.
3 Sometimes we feel, “Wow, I’m paying for this
course?” Some courses had really good professors
where they give you real field experience and
others not. It’s 50-50.
4 Skills gap depends on the individuation and is more
for a newbie than a person who has 10 years
teaching experience.
4 You don’t have to get rid of theory in the courses
completely but show me how to practically use
that in the classroom tomorrow.
5 You really need to think on your feet as a teacher
because you are constantly in unexpected
situations. (e.g. In the middle of your lesson plan,
the students aren’t ‘getting it’ and you have to go to
plan B or make up a plan B.)
5 You need to wow the principal. Either you have it
(charismatic) or it comes with many years of
experience on how to handle the classroom.
6 The university should organize the symposium
practical workshop days better to really give
practical topics that are in demand. E.g. ‘How to
deal with parents’
6 Feels that the school should teacher practical skills
like “How to come up with plan B on your feet
when kids are not getting it.” No one tells you
about the realistic issues like at recess, parent-
teacher interviews or plan B lesson plans.