The Mi:Lab March Newsletter
Hello and welcome to Mi:Lab’s March Newsletter!
Mi:Lab is an Innovation Lab based in Maynooth University that takes a human-centred design approach to exploring and tackling challenges within the higher education system. This monthly newsletter is for anyone interested in designing new and better ways of doing and experiencing traditional higher education in Ireland.
March Theme: Communication
As March comes to a close, we share some interesting links and resources that explore topics such as the role of the educator, life-centred design and Lego Serious Play. The theme of this month’s newsletter is communication, from communicating through Lego, conversation, story or presence. We hope these links will encourage you to think creatively and with a new perspective.
In other though related news, we were excited to send out Lego Serious Play Packages to Maynooth Entrepreneurship students this month:
Mi:Lab’s Higher Ed
Mi:Lab have rounded up some readings on re-imagining the future of Higher Ed.
The Great Refactoring: How Crisis Unlocks Productivity argues that “that creativity is the new productivity” and explores how we can use creativity to craft a path forward.
THE Campus: Making the case for better faculty training podcast explores the power of empathy, communication and storytelling in HE teaching.
Academics aren’t content creators according to Dr David Kellermann in Times Higher Education. Kellerman draws on Dewey’s seminal work on educational experience needing both cognitive, social and teaching ‘presence.’
COVID-19 has transformed education — here are the 5 innovations we should keep by Dr Paul Cowell in World Economic Forum / The Conversation.
Mi:Lab’s Design, Self and Creativity
Many of us are familiar with Dr Yuval Noah Harari, author of bestseller Sapiens. Check out Sapiens: A Graphic History to see the power of visual communication for telling history’s most compelling story to wide and diverse audiences.
Legendary Canadian Graphic Designer and innovator, Bruce Mau on life-centred design over human-centred design in desired, the podcast.
Making Conversation, by Fred Dust, formerly of IDEO. Dust breaks down the 7 essential elements of creative conversations: commitment, creative listening, clarity, context, constraints, change and creation.
What is Lego Serious Play and how can it foster creativity in organisations? Dr Helena Wennberg explores in RTE Brainstorm.
Higher Education News
Minister Harris launches National Gender Equality resource for Higher Education Institutions
Thousands of higher education places available for people reskilling
€3,600 PLC course fee dropped for asylum seekers
Minister Harris marks application for 3,000th apprentice under Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme
Minister Harris launches new COVID-19 information campaign for students and young adults
Minister Harris welcomes appointment of new president at Maynooth University
Save The Date
Telling Data Stories: higher education and surveillance futures — April 9th 2021
HEPI / Advance HE webinar: How do we ensure equality in higher education in a pandemic? — April 21st 2021
Fostering An Innovative Environment With Your Students — May 7th 2021
If you would like to keep up to date or become involved with our current and future works we would be delighted to hear from you at: milab@mu.ie.
Meme of the Month
