What is the problem you are trying to solve?
The lack of physical activity in higher education courses
1) Take a stab at framing it as a design question
How can we add physical activities as part of the normal learning experiences in higher education courses?
2) Now state the ultimate impact that you’re trying to have
Add a layer of physical activities to normal higher education courses to improve health and learning experiences, developing human beings as whole beings and not only brains.
3) What are some possible solutions to your problem? Think broadly. It’s fine to start a project with a hunch or two, but make sure you allow for surprising outcomes.
- A set of physical games that can be used as learning and/or assessment activities
- A digital experience that requires the use of gestures to reach contents or answer questions.
- A [digital] assistant to help manage the physical activity during classes / homeworks.
- Learning spaces that make people move more while taking courses
4) Finally, write down some of the context and constraints that you’re facing. They could be geographic, technological, time-based, or have to do with the population you’re trying to reach.
We are very used to the idea of the usual classroom setting. Even with diverse activities during class time, the physicality is almost never taken into consideration. We have against us the inertia of thought / traditions of the students and the faculty.
Occidental culture has a strong conceptual separation between “body” and “mind”: The priority is given to the “brains” learning and not to their “containers”.
What about people with disabilities? How to make sure that the solution helps to include them?
5) Does your original question need a tweak? Try it again.
How can we develop a general solution to add physical activity time to normal higher education courses?
How can we develop a general and accepted solution to add physical activity time to normal higher education courses?
– In session 6’s deeper thinking, you may find some works that are related to your problem of physical health and education.
– Make sure to find data that corroborates that this is a problem somewhere.
– think of your problem in the future. What form may it be in?
– are you saying more field trips 🙂