First-at-LAS Design Thinking Retreat
Bridging the conversation between LAS, students, and first-gen families! Heading link
LAS First-Generation students are invited to participate in the First-at-LAS Design-Thinking Retreat during Spring Break. First-gen students will work in teams, receive training on design thinking (see more information below!), identify topics that are important for first-gen students and parents, discuss challenges surrounding parent outreach, and present ideas and solutions for increasing communication between LAS and our first-gen students’ families.
When: Tuesday, March 19, 2024 (during Spring Break) from 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM at the UIC Innovation Center. Snacks, lunch, and dinner will be provided.
By participating in the First-at-LAS Design Thinking Retreat, LAS first-gen students will build academic competencies and gain sought-after transferrable skills often cited as necessary by professional recruiters and employers.
Upon completion, students will receive a certificate of participation and guidance for including this experience on resumes, in networking conversations, and other competitive opportunities.
Get ready to learn exciting skills, make a difference for our first-generation families, and positively impact LAS students’ academic and professional journeys!
Retreat details Heading link
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design thinking and benefits
Design thinking is a process for solving problems and addressing big, complex questions. It helps challenge assumptions, redefine problems, and create innovative solutions through trial and test.
Learning design thinking techniques develops critical skills and competencies that build on students’ LAS education and professional development.
Design thinking encourages students to:
- Analyze and critically reason
- Gather and evaluate evidence
- Understand and interpret data
- Acquire evidence-based research skills that lead to new conclusions
- Make complex arguments
- Communicate effectively orally and in writing
- Creatively problem-solve and innovate
- Understand and embrace diversity and cultural difference
- Develop empathic understanding
Want to learn more about the Design Thinking Process? See this guide.
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what students will do
Before the Retreat:
Participating students will be invited to attend a short orientation on February 9th at 1pm at UIC’s Innovation Center. The orientation will be recorded for students who cannot attend.
During the orientation students will be given access to a Blackboard site with instructional materials. Students will also receive a brief student survey, a parent interview survey, and training on how to perform interviews with their families.
The information learned from the student survey and interviews with families will be anonymous and shared with participating students before the retreat to help develop ideas and solutions on the day of the retreat.
On the Day of the Retreat:
Students will attend the day-long retreat on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 (During Spring Break) from 9:30 AM – 7:00 PM at UIC’s Innovation Center.
Snacks, lunch, and dinner will be provided.
Throughout the day students will:
- Receive design thinking training from UIC Innovation experts.
- Review information and literature on efforts to build partnerships and conversations with first-generation college students and their families.
- Work with peers to brainstorm important topics about the college experience to share with families.
- Design communication strategies for reaching out to first-gen families (in-person events, virtual events, videos, etc.!).
- Prepare a brief presentation and present your ideas to the larger group.
- Celebrate the day with awards, food, and fun!
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eligibility
All first-generation college students enrolled full-time in LAS are welcome to enroll.
Before enrolling, students should check their schedules to ensure they have time to complete the activities leading up to the retreat and attend the entire day of the retreat.