MAD - The Design Process - Idea to Action

Meeting a Need

Riccarton High School was not communicating with our school community often enough, fast enough or across the range of platforms now available to us through technology.

Empathise- Listening

Talk with the people who are involved to collect their stories:

• Principal’s PA (responsible for the communication but without the time)

• Media Teacher (hanging out for a communication project to use his skills, extend students and use futures technologies and platforms)

• Students producing content informally (innovating in isolation with minimal audience in own time)

• Deputy Principal (frustrated that we are not communicating efficiently and inspired by the concept of students leading the way with their technologies (Social Media).

• Technician (concerned about security at all times but willingly helpful regarding hardware, software and processes)

Define

Getting together with the above people to discuss the need and create the design question: How might we communicate to our school community using a range of media platforms and their technologies so that the community is informed about, and can participate in, the life of the school.

Ideate

Brainstorming possibilities, ideas and then selecting which to trial

• Creating a Communications team- roles

• Using students as they know the technologies best and adapt quickly

• Which technologies for communication- Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, school screens, billboards, electronic newsletter etc.

• Finding a space to create

• Minimal and dream equipment list

• Money- proposal to the BOT

• Production process

Prototype

Birth of MAD- Media and Advertising Division

Entered into Subject Selection booklet at last minute as a Y12 elective (other year levels could apply)

Ongoing co-construction throughout the year with the class, MAD student leaders, DP, Media Teacher, Principal PA and technician

BOT accepted proposal and new equipment was purchased

Test

Production teams and products created and trailed with technology and audience

Deadlines for products

Opening up Social Media in the school

Reflection

MAD assesses all its products based on a quality criteria, audience views, and team collaboration.

MAD continually uses the design process to meet new needs, to trial new ideas, technology and process, and to work beyond our own school supporting other organisations to hear the voice of youth using their technologies.