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Please be aware that the content herein has not been peer reviewed. It consists of personal reflections, insights, and learnings of the contributor(s). It may not be exhaustive, nor does it aim to be authoritative knowledge.
Title
Please provide a name for your action learning plan.
Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge - Cook Islands
Challenge statement
Challenge type: If you are working on multiple challenges, please indicate if this is your "big bet" or "exploratory" challenge.
Please note: we ask you to only submit a maximum of 3 challenges - 1x Big Bet, 2x Exploratory. Each challenge must be submitted individually.
EXPLORATORY
Challenge statement: What is your challenge? (Please answer in specific terms: "Our challenge is that...”.)
How might we encourage students to develop innovative solutions to pressing community issues through the integration of STEAM education?
Background: What is the history of your challenge? What is causing or driving it? Who is involved? How does the current situation look like? What undesired effects does it produce?
The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) competition is a groundbreaking initiative designed to catalyse innovation within education. Developed in partnership with Samsung NZ, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab as the implementer, and the Ministry of Education as the beneficiary, this competition serves as a beacon for empowering students. By integrating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), SFT provides a platform for students to tackle real-world challenges head-on. Through this collaborative effort, the aim is to cultivate a new generation of thinkers and problem-solvers who will drive positive change in their communities and beyond.
Quantitative evidence: What (official) data sources do you have on this challenge that better exemplifies the importance and urgency of this frontier challenge? You can add text, a link, or a picture.
Qualitative evidence: What weak signals have you recently spotted that characterizes its urgency? Please provide qualitative information that better exemplifies the importance and urgency of this frontier challenge. You can add text, a link, or a picture.
Value proposition: What added value or unique value proposition is your Accelerator Lab bringing to solving this challenge? Why is it your Lab that needs to work on this challenge and not other actors within UNDP, other stakeholders in the country respectively? Why is it worth investing resources to this challenge?
The UNDP Accelerator Lab (AccLab) can bring several key value propositions to the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow (SFT) challenge:
Expertise in Innovation and Sustainable Development: The AccLab possesses deep knowledge and experience in innovation methodologies and sustainable development practices. It can offer guidance and resources to help students understand complex community issues and develop innovative solutions that have a positive and lasting impact.
Access to Global Networks and Resources: As part of the United Nations network, the AccLab has access to a vast global network of experts, organizations, and resources. It can facilitate connections for students with mentors, subject matter experts, and potential collaborators, enhancing their learning experience and amplifying the impact of their projects.
Support for Local Contextualization: The AccLab's understanding of local contexts and challenges can assist students in tailoring their solutions to address specific community needs effectively. By providing insights into social, economic, and environmental factors, the AccLab can help students develop solutions that are relevant, feasible, and sustainable in their local contexts.
Capacity Building and Skill Development: Through workshops, training sessions, and other capacity-building activities, the AccLab can help students develop essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and project management. These skills are crucial for students to succeed not only in the SFT competition but also in their future endeavors as innovators and changemakers.
Advocacy and Amplification: The AccLab can amplify the impact of students' projects by advocating for their adoption and implementation at local, national, and even international levels. By showcasing successful solutions and sharing lessons learned, the AccLab can inspire broader action and contribute to positive change beyond the scope of the competition.
Short “tweet” summary: We would like to tweet what you are working on, can you summarize your challenge in a maximum of 280 characters?
Excited to join forces with @SamsungNZ, @UNDPAccLab, @CKIEducation Samsung Solve for Tomorrow! We're empowering students to tackle real-world challenges through STEAM education, driving positive change in communities. Let's innovate for a better future! #SolveForTomorrow
Partners
Who are your top 5 partners for this challenge? Please submit from MOST to LEAST important and state Name, Sector and a brief description of the (intended) collaboration.
Please state the name of the partner:
1. Samsung New Zealand
2. Ministry of Education, Cook Islands
3. High schools
What sector does our partner belong to?
Government (&related)
Please provide a brief description of the collaboration.
The Accelerator Lab is partnering with Samsung New Zealand to drive innovation in education through its Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Challenge. AccLab will collaborate with the Ministry of Education in Cook Islands and the select high schools to build youth empowerment and citizenship to promote and foster STEAM as a driver of solution development.
Is this a new and unusual partner for UNDP?
No
Learning questions
Learning question: What is your learning question for this challenge? What do you need to know or understand to work on your challenge statement?
How can educators effectively integrate STEAM education to foster active citizenship among students, empowering them to address real-world challenges and drive positive change in their communities?
What strategies and resources can be employed to cultivate essential skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork in students, preparing them to become active citizens who actively engage in civic participation and contribute to societal well-being?
To what stage(s) in the learning cycle does your learning question relate?
Sense, Explore, Test
Usage of methods: Relating to your choice above, how will you use your methods & tools for this learning question? What value do these add in answering your learning question?
Design thinking encourages students to approach challenges with empathy, understanding the needs of their communities. Prototyping allows them to translate their ideas into tangible solutions, iterating and refining them based on feedback. Solutions mapping helps students visualize the interconnected nature of societal issues, enabling them to develop comprehensive and sustainable solutions. Building partnerships through storytelling enhances students' ability to communicate their ideas effectively, garnering support from stakeholders and mobilizing resources for implementation. Together, these methodologies foster a holistic approach to active citizenship, empowering students to address complex challenges and drive meaningful change in their communities.
Existing data gaps: Relating to your choice above, what existing gaps in data or information do these new sources of data addressing? What value do these add in answering your learning question?
The value of the innovation challenge is showcasing practical approaches to applying STEAM to real world challenges. The challenge is essentially meant to foster and promote STEAM education and feasible learning methods on the application of STEAM components that can be done within the high school setting.
Closing
Early leads to grow: Think about the possible grow phase for this challenge - who might benefit from your work on this challenge or who might be the champions in your country that you should inform or collaborate with early on to help you grow this challenge?
This is an opportunity for AccLab to leverage through Samsung, NZ potential resource mobilization opportunities for its Governance portfolio.
END OF ACTION LEARNING PLAN: Thank you! The form saves automatically and your submission has been recorded. You may now exit this window.
4Quality education
5Gender equality
17Partnerships for the goals
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