Manual Change was started in January 2012 as a brief for my Senior Project students at the American University in Dubai.
Change the World
The Brief:
You have been studying for 4 years (give or take) and are about to enter a whole new universe where you might not have time to tie your shoelaces, let alone do something you really care about. Here is your opportunity to take the bull by the horns and kick some asterisk.
Your mission for this course, should you accept it, is to change the world. This may be to change the life of one person or millions, it's up to you. Utilizing your accumulated knowledge, skills and talents within your chosen major, you are to define and execute a self-driven project which engages people/organizations outside of the university to make the world a better place. (Re)brand a non-profit org. (Re)design their website. Launch an awareness campaign. Find an underrepresented community and champion their cause with your professional expertise. Whatever it is, do it now, do it well, and plug in.
Our first week, we will brainstorm ideas for what it means to each of us to change the world. Who, what, where, when and how will be discussed, as will why.
Month 1:
Thereafter, having narrowed down our 3+ ideas to one, you will set about the task of researching your cause. Identify the problem, the major and/or local players (if any) in solving it, and the possible solutions, whether already existent or proposed. Your research will then go into a ten-page paper with a minimum of 20 sources (5+ offline).
Month 2:
Having identified problem and solution, you will begin to engage your project fully. This is the creative part coupled with the practical. Get in touch with those major/local players and start making something happen. Ask them what they need, what you can contribute and decide on best approach. Then execute.
Month 3:
This is the fine-tuning of the execution and determining the logistics of launching your project.
Last few weeks of class:
Launch the project. Exhibit your solutions. Present to the public. Smile.
Change the World
The Brief:
You have been studying for 4 years (give or take) and are about to enter a whole new universe where you might not have time to tie your shoelaces, let alone do something you really care about. Here is your opportunity to take the bull by the horns and kick some asterisk.
Your mission for this course, should you accept it, is to change the world. This may be to change the life of one person or millions, it's up to you. Utilizing your accumulated knowledge, skills and talents within your chosen major, you are to define and execute a self-driven project which engages people/organizations outside of the university to make the world a better place. (Re)brand a non-profit org. (Re)design their website. Launch an awareness campaign. Find an underrepresented community and champion their cause with your professional expertise. Whatever it is, do it now, do it well, and plug in.
Our first week, we will brainstorm ideas for what it means to each of us to change the world. Who, what, where, when and how will be discussed, as will why.
Month 1:
Thereafter, having narrowed down our 3+ ideas to one, you will set about the task of researching your cause. Identify the problem, the major and/or local players (if any) in solving it, and the possible solutions, whether already existent or proposed. Your research will then go into a ten-page paper with a minimum of 20 sources (5+ offline).
Month 2:
Having identified problem and solution, you will begin to engage your project fully. This is the creative part coupled with the practical. Get in touch with those major/local players and start making something happen. Ask them what they need, what you can contribute and decide on best approach. Then execute.
Month 3:
This is the fine-tuning of the execution and determining the logistics of launching your project.
Last few weeks of class:
Launch the project. Exhibit your solutions. Present to the public. Smile.
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