I Like...
the fact that we started the class off with the design day at IDEO.
that everyone in the class was really engaged.
the momentum of the class and the way the the health aspect threaded through the lectures.
the multiples perspectives we had of the elderly population.
the input from the fellows--they really asked the right questions in the right time.
the warmup exercises at the beginning of each class.
that different people were brought in to speak throughout the class to bring in different points of view.
that there were social events.
the resources that were available.
the team process day with Julian.
that we were made aware of the emotional aspect of design (i.e., the highs and lows throughout the process).
that, given the uncertainties of the class, the teach teaming team and the class worked so well.
the feedback that the teaching team asked of the students (the ILIW sessions).
I Wish...
we had more worktime in class to work with faculty.
that we would have had time to bring the project to the next level.
we had longer blocks of time to work with our design coaches.
we could have integrated the knowledge from the lectures into each design.
there had been more enforcement of the design process after the design day--more guidance/structuing of the project each day.
that the readings had been posted earlier.
that we had known what was expected at the end of the class.
there had been more materials laying around to use.
that everything wasn't so jam-packed in.
had some of the speakers come back to get further feedback (periodically) because they have such varying and useful areas of expertise.
that there had been an easier way to get access to users.
we'd had more times to work on prototypes.
we had known more about how to make observations.
we had had more time to do observations (and to go back and do observations).
the people we interviewed had had more serious mobility issues (e.g., we needed to see "extreme" users).
we had focused the observations to give a more "mobility-oriented" view of aging.
How To...
draw lecture material into class (idea: after each lecture, talk about how that material might impact each project)?
set the stage of what is expected from the beginning (idea: frame it as a "learning adventure" rather than "building a product")?
have more external motivators for the project (idea: periodic writeups that enforce milestones)?
get access to users more easily?
foster more cross-pollination between groups (idea: provide structured time for groups to give intimate feedback to each other, or maybe have people switch groups for a week at a time)?
incorporate business aspect earlier on (idea: tap the expertise of the business school students, or provide a more focused need via actual clients)?
learn more about how to do observations (idea: have a focused class "observation day")?
more clearly focus on mobility (idea: actually visit an assisted living facility as a class)?