HVA 2040 – Co-creating the Future of Higher Education

We used various methods, including:

• Desk Review: We did a desk review by looking at recent reports from major consulting firms that explored the future of higher education
•  1-on-1 Interviews: We interviewed Frank, an experienced instructor, and Rozin, an undergraduate student, to gain their perspectives for our research.

• Survey: We distributed surveys to a diverse audience including students, alumni, teaching staff, and neighborhood to collect quantitative data and understand their needs and preferences.
• Designing Personas: Based on our findings from the desk review, interviews, and survey we created 5 personas.
• Empathy Mapping: We also Constructed empathy maps to visualize and understand the emotions, behaviors, and pain points of our personas.

• Prototyping: We developed a cardboard game prototype visualizing 15 values important to our personas, enabling us to iterate quickly and test concepts. This allowed us to gather feedback for refinement in our sprint review.

In our first sprint, we made significant progress, laying a solid foundation for our project. We conducted thorough research on higher education and developed a prototype highlighting 15 key values. The idea of using a Geodesic Dome sparked new insights. During a meeting with partners, we shared our findings and received valuable feedback. This sprint was marked by hard work, innovation, and collaboration, setting the stage for the next steps in our journey.

The primary goal of this sprint was to construct and design a geodesic dome, serving as a tangible centerpiece for our project. This dome serves as a hub for collaboration, sparks creativity, and facilitates storytelling, all focused on envisioning the future of higher education.

In this Sprint, we focused on hands-on testing and iterative development to refine our concepts and exhibits. Using a cycle of trial and error, we created and adjusted expo components to ensure they were engaging. We designed visually striking posters to attract visitors to the geodesic dome, serving as promotional tools and providing clear instructions. By continuously testing ideas and incorporating feedback, we developed a dynamic, immersive experience showcasing the future of higher education.

In this Sprint, we focused on testing and iterative development by experimenting with various AI picture generators to find the highest quality images. We refined prompts through trial and error to achieve accurate and visually appealing results. This hands-on approach deepened our understanding of AI tools and effectively integrated digital elements into our concepts. By the end of the sprint, we had selected the best AI picture generator and developed the skills to create high-quality digital visuals.

The goal of this sprint is to design a comprehensive user experience, ensuring that participants visiting the geodesic dome at the showcase and expo have an engaging, seamless, and memorable experience at each stage of interaction.

To design and implement a comprehensive user experience plan for the DSS showcase and Expo, we focused on the 5E Model—Entice, Enter, Engage, Exit, and Extend. This approach allowed us to create a holistic and impactful experience that captivates visitors and fosters ongoing engagement and collaboration around the future of higher education.

1. Entice:
   • Generate interest and excitement before the event, drawing participants in with compelling communications and promotional materials.
2. Enter:
   • Create an immersive initial experience that introduces participants to the theme and sets the stage for their journey.
3. Engage:
   • Provide interactive and participatory opportunities for visitors to deeply connect with the content and actively contribute their ideas.
4. Exit:
   • Facilitate a reflective and meaningful conclusion to the experience, encouraging feedback and personal takeaways.
5. Extend:
   • Promote ongoing engagement and collaboration post-event, ensuring the conversation and interaction continue beyond the initial visit.

By following the 5E Model, we aimed to design an experience that is captivating, meaningful, and conducive to long-term engagement.

In this sprint, we gathered our ideas and shared them with our partners to refine and enhance them. This collaborative effort allowed us to incorporate valuable feedback and insights, setting the stage for the final sprint, Sprint 5, where we will finalize and implement our comprehensive user experience plan in the expo we have under our dome.

The project successfully engaged a wide range of participants, allowing us to collect valuable insights into the future of higher education. The AI-generated images and extensive participant feedback highlight the key areas of focus for future educational development. This collaborative effort will inform policy-makers, educators, and institutions in their strategic planning to adapt to ongoing and future changes.