Design Thinking: Observe, Ask Questions, Build Empathy (12 Days Of Ideas #6)
“A problem well put is half solved.”
Wanna solve a problem?
Automatically and without fail, our mind steers toward possible solutions. What if I did this? What about that? Can I ... ? How about ... ?
How about we just turn all of that off? Not forever, just for a while, turn the brain off. Shut the constant stream of thoughts off and watch, listen, smell, touch, and taste. Truly experience the problem, the moment, the experience itself. Forget about the solution and move toward really understanding first.
So don't assume. Just observe and ask questions. Ask those the solution is intended for. Ask yourself. Immerse yourself in the experience without judgement to find out as much as possible about the problem and those the solution is meant for. Build empathy.
So often we solve problems from our own perspective only. Sometimes we get it right. Often we don't. The solution is missing something. It's missing empathy, because we assume too much and experience too little.
This world is in a mad rush toward solutions now. We don't take time necessary to slow down and truly figure out the problems. Solutions are often unsustainable, because we focus on the end goal only. But, the process is where most of the learning occurs...
So let's design learning to teach students to build empathy. Design it so they prefer experiencing first, designing and solving later. Make it natural to observe and ask questions without judgement. Let's design learning so that it leads to sustainable solutions, a sustainable world, and a sustainable future.
You have the power to change the world. Use it often.