ECO Blackboard.
An AI assistant that helps medical students grow communication skills based on real-life conversations in the hospital.
Duration
3 months, Feb – May 2018
Methods
Interview / Survey
Participatory Workshop
Diary Study
Concept Speed-dating
Usability Testing / Wizard of Oz
My Role
Research & Strategy Lead
UI/UX Design
(smart watch & voice)
Persona Building
Team
This is a solo project
Project Background
China has one of the largest – and fastest growing – carbon footprints of any country on earth (WWF, 2019). Over the next few decades, today’s Chinese schoolchildren - around 200 million - will be making vital decisions about what to consume and how to live. Whether or not the next generation are environmentally-informed will have tremendous impacts on the global environment.
The Challenge
How might we promote behavior changes in China through quality education for sustainable development (ESD) in public schools?
The Solution
How might we promote behavior changes in China through quality education for sustainable development (ESD) in public schools?
How I got there?
01 - Understanding the problem space
02 - Insights and opportunity area
At present, there are special environmental education courses (mainly for garbage recycling) in China, but it is difficult for students to continue environmental protection activities after class.
The present environmental education in China places focuses more on knowledge acquisition than actual practice by individuals (Tian et al. 2016). While this approach helps building awareness, it does not necessarily result in behavior changes.
Reframed Design Challenge
How might we reinforce students’ eco awareness and encourage them to continue practicing recycling after school workshops？
Area of Focus - Why Recycling?
By 2025, China hopes to implement a nationwide urban waste sorting system. Recycling education will be of top priority in China’s first eco-education program.
03 - Concept Development
04 - Delivery
“Eco-Blackboard” is an interactive wall installation that encourages students to practice recycling as a group. Designed as a teaching aid, it motivates students to continue practicing recycling-behaviors after class. The story is inviting: by properly recycling their trash, students could “turn” a gloomy picture of nature into a lively one, learning the positive impacts of their actions.
05 - Learning Journey
06 - Project Summary
07- Reflection
As a designer who is passionate about people and the environment, I believe that the issue of sustainability, given its intricacy and scale, should be addressed globally and locally. This project provided a joyful opportunity to examine the ESD in China, both through analyzing its domestic situations and the global standards.
Through interaction with students, parents, and teachers, I got a better sense of the challenges in implementing ESD in China, and was able to develop a China-specific plan of innovative teaching aid system. Overall, it is a rewarding experience to design around fostering eco-awareness and behaviors, and have a small but meaningful footprint in the education, earth, and people.