Strategic Design Research
Description
Instructor
John Grimes
Kevin Denney
Patrick Whitney
Vijay Kumar
Topic 1. Certification in a Bottom-up World:
How do we know if people know anything?
This is part of the Electronic Learning Record, a project which is supported by the MacArthur Foundation. It is a good project for those who want to explore new business models and new modes of user experience in the context of digital publishing.
You can get background information about the general project at:
www.electroniclearningrecord.org
Certifying what people know has traditionally been top-down. Authorities and institutions have been the certifying bodies that people value most. Until recently, the only thing that mattered, for example, was that you had a degree from prestigious university, a "Cisco" certification.
The power shift happening between large institutions and informal associations and networks means that the nature assuring competency and identity is changing. We'd like to understand how different certification models work and explore the structure and potential business models related to new ways of establishing competency. We'll also spend time thinking about how large institutions continue to exist as certifying bodies.
The methods used will be interviewing experts across various fields and performing secondary research.
Topic 2. Homestretch: learning in Grand Rapids
The Steelcase Foundation funds this project. The project started in the spring 08 semester, continued through the summer, and will be completed this semester (fall 08). The Steelcase Foundation has asked ID to help frame the salient issues related to learning in the city of Grand Rapids (for kids ages k-12), and develop a portfolio of options that will guide their future philanthropic efforts. The foundation has made education its top funding priority, and wants our guidance related to promising innovations and programs they can fund and develop.
The team has already created a portfolio of options (programs, infrastructure improvements, new communications). We are looking for 2 - 3 students to join the team and help finish the
project. The students will help refine, visualize, and share the options with the Steelcase Foundation leadership. The team will also be involved with a strategic planning effort for the Grand Rapids public school system. This will include running workshops and writing
a strategic plan. Students interested in the strategic planning process will learn a great deal about implementing and developing a strategy for a large, public facing organization.
