I sent emails to scientists from MIT University, Imperial College, University of Michigan and Georgia Tech University, and got several responses. And interviewed Manuel Corpas, who is a scientist that works in Cambridge University as I wanted.
Laurence J. Jacobs
Senior Vice Provost for Education and Learning and Professor from Georgia Tech University
”I identify the right problem, develop a research hypothesis and then apply a relevant analytical model to gain an overall understanding, before spending time on more detailed computational or experimental models. Examine the results, revisit the hypothesis and then revise the model if necessary.”
Alexander Slocum
Professor of Mechanical Engineering from MIT University
“For example, if you FOCUS on solving the problem, how to determine the possibility of economically reducing carbon emissions.
What is really needed is a full lifecycle assessment of C02 from product manufacture to use to end of life.”
Professor of Mechanical Engineering from University of Michigan
“It's true that most people don't think enough about the problem before starting on a 'solution' but I think that is a result of insecurity.
When we are in the middle of a calculation, we feel as though we know what we are doing, but when we are just sounding out possibilities, the world seems a more scary place.
But I could counter that argument by saying that if we start on a solution, even using an incorrect or inappropriate procedure, the thinking involved often casts more light on the original problem.
Sometimes it's best to do something even if it might lead in the wrong direction, because where we then get to will give us a new perspective on the problem.
Provided we keep our eyes open.“
Manuel Corpas
Chief Scientist of Cambridge startup Cambridge Precision Medicine
He told me that it is important to simplify the problem in order to resolve it. He also said that it is important to act inside the limitations that we have. He talked about the importance of a previous plan and the importance of taking notes of the progress.
I found the information that I obtained very useful and I was ready to elaborate my own
algorithm of identification and resolution of problems, the product of this project:
- Investigate. Learn more about the situation.
- Empathize. Try to look at the situation from the points of views of interested sides in order to understand them better. This step was in the Design thinking process, but Alexander Slocum, an engineer from MIT university, also told me something similar. It is important to understand the lifecycle of the people involved, and understand their needs and their problems.
- Identify the right problem. After doing research and empathizing we are ready to formulate the problem. Very important step
- Simplify the problem. Divide the problem into simple components, a step that I included thanks to Manuel Corpas’ strategy to resolve problems.
- Brainstorm. It consists of finding ideas to solve the defined problem. You just have to write all the ideas that you obtain. A similar step can be found in the design thinking process.
- Analyze the ideas. Find the best idea that meets all the needs to resolve the problem
- Prototype. Try out your idea in a particular zone
- Check results. If the idea is successful you can amplify your idea to more zones. If it isn’t successful then you should analyze the reason and maybe go back to previous steps
Now it was time to put my algorithm into practice
The problem that I wanted to solve is the lack of positive communication between students of 4ESO and students from primary school.
Investigation: I asked some teachers about the topic, and they admitted that it’s true that sometimes some jokes from older students towards the smaller ones aren’t very positive
Empathize: It was easy for me to empathize, because I remember the time when I only arrived to this school, and the thoughts and feelings that I had, and that’s true that when I was younger I sometimes was scared of the older students, even if they didn’t have any bad intentions towards me. This is exactly what I want to prevent in the attitude of primary students.
Define the problem: The problem seemed to be in the lack of time that they have spent together, they weren’t communicating because they had no interests in common and as the result they didn’t know anything about each other
Simplify: The components of the problem were: No interests in common, The lack of time they spent together, and the fact that they didn’t know each other.
Brainstorm: Firstly I thought about one older student helping a younger students
with his homework or problems in school. Then I thought about a older student that would guide a group of younger students and maybe give them advices. And then I got the idea to get a group of older students and a group of younger students to do some different activities and play some games together
Analyze the ideas: the first idea seemed too boring, just doing homework or talking about problems in school is more like what a teacher would do and not an older student. The second idea wasn’t too convenient because it would be too hard to control an entire group of students. And the third idea seemed like the best one, they would know each other better doing activities that they like and spending time together.
Prototype: Brothers project ECOS
I got a group of volunteers from my class and distributed three games between them, so one student from my class would spend time playing with 8 students from primary class. Firstly we asked basic questions about geography and astronomy. Then we divided the younger students into three groups and they were changing every ten minutes between three games, two of these games were physical, and one was intelectual, so everyone could be satisfied, and they tried all the three activities. MORE
Check results: I believe that it worked because the younger students seemed to like it and the older ones also agreed that it was good. When we finished some of the kids didn’t want to leave and kept playing chess. And some students from the primary class said hi to me the next day, so I really think that this kind of activity can improve communication between the two classes. I think it is a good enough idea to be amplifi.
