For the fifth year running, more than 100 students in Year 5 at Matthew Flinders Anglican College on the Sunshine Coast embraced the 2024 Design for Impact Summit challenge over three days, building their skills in collaborative problem solving and future thinking.
Students were challenged to repurpose the facilities and infrastructure from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic events held right here on the Sunshine Coast to benefit residents post-Olympics.
Working in groups, the Year 5 students in the Flinders Primary School were responsible for one of 20 scaled map pieces of the Kawana Precinct on the Sunshine Coast, and tasked with designing in 3-D using cardboard and other recycled materials and craft.
On the 20 map pieces, they designed the future environments they want to live in, creating a vibrant prototype scaled model that spread across the Performance Centre stage (see cover image).
Students were asked at the Summit:
- What’s your vision for 2050?
- What sort of city do you want to live in as custodians of the future?
- How can you harness the energy, creativity and financial investment related to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics to improve your community and keep the legacy alive?
- How can you ensure the Biosphere principles remain evident throughout the city?
The students’ task throughout the high-energy immersion design thinking experience was to follow the design thinking cycle (Empathise - Define - Ideate - Prototype - Test) to repurpose the infrastructure used in the Olympics.
Without warning and at various times during the Summit, the students’ work was creatively hijacked by consultants and educators who visited to disrupt their ideas and thinking, forcing the students to pivot and reconsider their designs. Such experiences helped students develop their agility, resilience and ability to re-ideate and prototype.
Industry Experts Visit to Mentor Young Future Thinkers
Over the three days, students were mentored and guided by experts in town planning, architecture, future thinking, regenerative futures and sustainability, with representatives from council, university and private practice.
For example, students were fascinated to hear from and work alongside Jan Willett who is on the Board for Sunshine Coast 2032. In her previous role as the Director of Events for New South Wales from 2004 to 2021, Jan was responsible for major events such as the City to Surf, Sydney Marathon, New Years Eve, Australia Day and The Invictus Games.
Other expert speakers and mentors included:
- Mr David Moore (Sunshine Coast Biosphere)
- Mr Tom Brock (Architect)
- Mr Mal Brough (Sunshine Coast 2032)
- Mr Duncan Armstrong OAM (Olympic Champion and Sunshine Coast 2032) and
- Lisa Moore (Architect).
It was wonderful to have some staff and student alumni return to campus to support the students through their design adventure. Alumni volunteers at the Summit included Dr John Stevenson (past Board, Chair of Directors), Mr Peter Francis (past Secondary Teacher), Miss Chelsea Orford (Class of 2019 and current OSHC Staff) and Chloe Stronach (Class of 2022).
Volunteers were also on hand from the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Buderim Men's Shed, and there was a visit from our Federal Member for Fairfax, Mr Ted O’Brien to view the final prototype.
Flinders a Leader in Teaching Design Thinking
The Flinders Head of Primary, Mrs Trudi Edwards, said the College was thrilled to be delivering the fifth Design for Impact Summit and was committed to being a leader in teaching human-centred design thinking.
“Parents told me over and over again that their children were coming home from each day of the Summit buzzing with enthusiasm and with explanations of what they were doing, completely inspired by the opportunity,” Trudi said.
“I sincerely thank and credit our Primary staff for their ongoing commitment to providing such enriching, real-world learning opportunities for our students to experience the energy, excitement and possibility of design thinking and problem solving.
“These skills are critical to preparing citizens of the future who are engaged and empowered, with the capacity to make a positive difference in the world.
“In seeing what our students achieved and how they connected with our guest speakers and mentors from industry, I feel heartened that the future is in very good hands.”
Learn more about design thinking in the Primary School with this story of our Year 6 students building their knowledge and passion as future thinkers. Click here.
