Design Thinking & Curriculum Team Reflection: Reframing Student Stories to Create Change 

In this blog, the Leadership and Design Thinking Team share what it was like to lay the groundwork for the Innovation Hub’s latest project and discuss the lasting impact of learning collaboratively in a peer-to-peer environment.  

Written by the Design Thinking and Curriculum teams 

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For many of us on the team this summer, the term started with the 10^th Anniversary Celebration. Walking through the gallery of projects and seeing the iHub’s widespread influence made all of us wonder if we would be able to make the same impact. When the term really began and we had our first team meeting, we still weren’t sure. Sitting across the table with a new team was daunting at first. But over our co-working sessions, we really got to know everyone on the team, and wow, at the end of the summer, we can see how much we were able to accomplish. 

Summer Work Study at the Innovation Hub is often a time of preparation and gearing up for the fall, but that doesn’t make the work any less important. This summer, our design thinking and curriculum teams worked on fostering new perspectives, collaborating with their peers, and discovering the freedom to test new ideas and ways of thinking. 

Finding a Different Point of View 

During our first team meetings, we went around and everyone introduced themselves. As we moved around the table, different voices shared different programs, different colleges, different backgrounds. Everyone was coming into this work with a different perspective. As we put our minds to the work over the term, these differing perspectives broadened our ideas for research and made workshops more engaging. Here’s what our team had to say about their experience working alongside peers from across the university: 

Anandi: “Coming into the iHub, I had an idea of how diverse the programs and backgrounds of my fellow work study cohort would be, but when I started, it was surprising to hear the diversity of programs. Almost everyone is doing something different in their academic life and coming to work with different goals. I appreciated how every one of my team members brings a different perspective. It has been very refreshing and fulfilling to learn new things, especially about U of T.” 

Sharon: “My favourite memory so far has been the weekly workshops. While the work we did at the iHub was collaborative in nature, I found that the weekly workshops allowed me to meet and talk to people that I wouldn’t get to talk to regularly. I also enjoyed learning new skills during these workshops and getting to practice them with those around me because it allowed me to connect deeper with my colleagues.” 

New Perspectives Through Feedback  

After our first team meeting, we got into a steady rhythm during co-working sessions. Our table lit up with conversation every time one of our peers found a good resource, and when questions came up, there would always be someone ready to answer and help. Once we found our stride, it was also easier to work with feedback. Something that surprised us was how the iterative nature of our work pushed us to think of new ways to approach existing ideas. Our team reflected on how feedback affected us and what we learned from the collaborative aspect of design thinking:  

Alex: “My favourite memory from the Work Study term has been seeing how small changes based on feedback could make a big difference. It was rewarding to watch an idea evolve from a rough draft into something more engaging and accessible through collaboration. One of the biggest things I will take away from my experience at the iHub is the importance of designing with people, not just for people. I think it is a more thoughtful and collaborative way to solve problems, and I will continue to practice it.” 

Jasmine: “Something I’m definitely going to take away from my time at the iHub is the value of imperfection and collaboration. Sitting at a table with my interdisciplinary team and allowing our thoughts to flow freely made each co-working session really rewarding. Learning how to build from my team members’ ideas and craft something amazing together is a practice I will bring into every role I hold in the future.” 

Confidence and Seizing New Skills 

Collaborating with peers from different backgrounds and working through feedback together gave us the confidence to learn new skills. When we filled out our Your Learning Journey workbooks (the iHub’s 1:1 coaching program) we reflected on the competencies we wanted to develop in the workplace. Many of us realized that the skills we’ve learned as a team, and the work we’ve contributed will serve us beyond our time at the iHub. Here’s what our team said about the Work Study experience and learning: 

Caius: “I did not expect how much trust and independence I would be given as a Work Study student. While we had guides to work with, I really appreciated how much I was encouraged to contribute my own ideas and how much my perspective was valued. It was really rewarding to see how much the organization truly does care about the student experience and gave me a lot of hope for the future of U of T that a place like this exists.” 

Doreen: “I didn’t expect to be able to write my own blog post, and expand my writing skills, alongside my research and data skills. I am going to take away my new skills in writing, and research, as well as new friendships across the tri-campus!” 

Laying the Groundwork and Finding New Paths 

During our final reflection together as a team, we sat at the same table as we did when we first began the semester. It was a bittersweet moment — while some of us will be coming back in the fall to continue the project, for many this summer term marked the end of our time at U of T. But something that made the experience special was knowing that the work we did laid the foundation for the future. The interviews we facilitated and the things we’d learned will be carried on by the next team and eventually showcased in a Student Experience Data Day next spring. For those of us staying, we can’t wait to continue creating the path, and for those of us leaving, we couldn’t be more excited to see what comes next. 

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