The SDGs Design School in Collaboration with Fukusho High School

The SDGs Design School is part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Design Unit, Kyushu University. Formed in 2019, using design education as a platform, the SDGs Design School aims to create greater awareness in the general public on the importance of the SDGs. We hope to nurture people who will take actions and contribute to making society and the world a better place to live. This project also aims to develop new educational approaches and content to nurture our future generation with the ability to respond to diverse needs and changes in society.

The SDGs Design School collaborated with Fukusho High School on a series of lessons for 17 students who are taking the “Global Management Program” in the school.

The main purpose of the lessons is to create awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the design thinking process. The experience and feedback of the lessons will help the SDGs Design School to refine its tools and programs.

Before the lessons, the members in the SDGs Design School met with the school principal, vice-principal and teacher teaching the class to discuss the curriculum plan and teaching strategies for the lessons. After each session, there were discussions and feedback gathered from the observers and the teacher. The information gathered helps to refine the curriculum.

The first lesson started on September 18, 2019. There are four sessions in total with the students. Each session was 50 mins, and the students worked in 3 groups. The first lesson began with an introduction to SDGs. It was followed by the student discussing possible local issues/problems related to SDGs and evaluating the problems identified in their groups. The lesson concluded with the student’s short presentation of issues they have explored and the problem they chose to tackle. The students generated many problems related to trash such as littering in the street, overflowing trash in the litter bin, plastic pollution in the sea that affects the sea creatures. Also, climate change issues such as heavy rain resulting in floods and damaged houses, heatstroke during extreme hot temperature in summer, etc.

For the second lesson on September 25, 2019, the students are taught how to write a design brief for the issues that they have surfaced in the first session, then to brainstorm many ideas to solve the problem they identified. After which, they selected one idea based on sound reasoning and presented to the class.

For the third lesson on October 2, 2019, they learned to develop their idea to include details to make the solution more viable. Then presented their solutions through a poster to the class.

For the final lesson on October 15, 2019, it was a formal presentation to the students and teachers in the school, followed by a critic session. Feedback was gathered from the school and students to refine the program for the future project.

The students are invited to present their work in “Kyushu SDGs Design Network Conference” on November 14th, 2019. This opportunity provided them with the exposure of public speaking and to seek feedback on their solution from the experts of various specialization from the university and private companies.