Inspiring innovation with IDEA (Irish Development Education Association)

May 17

Working with IDEA and their members on the design and delivery of the Innovation program during May and June 2023 has been an honour and privilege. As a firm believer in the importance of positive and progressive change in the field of Education, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to share my experience and skills to promote the power of creative problem-solving and innovation in the sector. It was a true pleasure to collaborate with IDEA and their passionate members in designing a series of workshops and events that aimed to kick-start their Innovation program.

“It is a rarity and a pleasure to work with someone who puts so much effort and time in understanding the wider context of our work in order to perfectly tailor our collaboration to our needs and expectations. The easy, clear and efficient communication we got during our work together is reflected in the quality of the outcome and positive feedback of participants.“ - Anya Sparynska, IDEA

IDEA, as the national network for Development Education in Ireland, plays a crucial role in promoting and advancing Development Education in various settings. With over 100 dedicated members, they tirelessly work towards achieving an equal, just, and sustainable future. The Innovation Series 2023 aimed to further enhance IDEA's mission by encouraging innovative thinking and empowering individuals to embrace creative approaches in their work.

The process included co-designing and delivering a bespoke a range of creativity and innovation workshops and events, both in-person and online. This series provided a platform for IDEA and their members to explore new ideas, methods, and practices to drive positive change. One of the highlights was hosting a session titled "Innovating for a Better World" as part of IDEA's Annual Conference. This session aimed to inspire and challenge attendees to think outside the box, question norms, and reimagine their projects and initiatives.

A central component of the Innovation Series was a 2-part training program. I designed an interactive and engaging curriculum focused on introducing the concepts of innovation and providing practical tools to help participants identify their creative strengths. Through a co-design process, I crafted exercises and activities to encourage participants to think differently and reframe their projects for maximum impact. The training was led by myself and supported by my colleague, Stéphanie Heckman.

The training aimed to equip participants with the necessary tools and mindset to push the boundaries of their work. We emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, challenging assumptions, and seeking new perspectives. By encouraging participants to think beyond traditional approaches, we hoped to unlock their potential for greater creativity and problem-solving.

The impact of the Innovation Series and the 2-part training was overwhelmingly positive. Participants expressed how the sessions sparked their imagination and empowered them to approach their work with renewed enthusiasm. By encouraging creative thinking and providing practical tools, participants felt more confident in designing activities that resonated with their audiences. The workshops fostered a sense of collaboration, allowing participants to learn from one another and exchange ideas, creating a vibrant network of change-makers.

Some of the topics covered in the in-person training included exploring creativity and innovation, visual thinking tools, identifying and unpacking problems using cause and effect and agreement and certainty models, ideation techniques such as Crazy8 and collaborative prioritization, convening teams around solutions, connecting with audiences through empathy mapping and the Know, Feel, Do framework, and reflecting on existing behaviors using the Stop, Start, Continue model.

The feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their gratitude for the workshop and their excitement to implement the tools in their work. Participants appreciated the collaborative and informative facilitation, the opportunity to learn new tools, and the comfortable space that encouraged their creativity. The workshop left them feeling equipped and confident to be more creative and innovative in their practice.

What the members said:

Lovely facilitation felt very collaborative and informative.
Thank you so much really enjoyed it. Great to learn new tools. I’d like to know more about using these visual tools with participants.
Great workshop thank you! Excited to use the tools in my work some more movement around the room might help lift energy after lunch.
Fantastic well done.
Becky and Stephanie thank you very much for such a wonderful useful workshop, it was the most delightful way to spend my birthday.
Thank you! It was a very enjoyable day we approach the tools in ‘innovative ways’
I felt quite nervous before this workshop and fearful I was not creative enough! But you both introduced us to the work so well and eased us in. It was a very comfortable space, I really do feel equipped and confident to be more creative and innovative thanks for this amazing workshop :-)
I feel confident to draw something now I will illustrate more on my practice from now on.
Thank you for a very stimulating, educational and inspiring workshop well done looking forward to the 9th.
I feel really energised after this workshop. Thank you for such thought-provoking and engaging discussions you facilitated today, look forward to the next one - cheers.
Thank you for the workshop it was very useful and will for sure use all the tools in the future.
Looking forward to using the tools for my ideas to grow.