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CHANGE ARCHITECTS

Started in 2017, Change Architects is the umbrella initiative of the All Grow Association, which is based on innovative Design Thinking and Maker Education methods that contribute to the development of 21st century skills and abilities, among which we mention critical thinking, empathy, creativity, communication, collaboration and self-confidence ability to create change (Binkley, et al., 2010).

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Change Architects is aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 18. Thus students become agents of change in their communities through social entrepreneurship and involvement in community developmentii. In the activities facilitated by the teaching staff using design thinking, the students work in teams to identify challenges from the community, school or their everyday life. These challenges are analyzed and prioritized to identify and then build a viable solution that is then tested in the community. The impact of the intervention is then analyzed within the reflection and solution activitiesit is presented to the community and online nationally. This process empowers students and helps them develop critical or 21st century skills. 

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During the 2023-2024 school year, we will have two rounds of registrations on October 5, 2023, International Education Day, and in January, and the activities will be implemented throughout the school year adapted for the Otherwise Week, Green Week and integrated with extracurricular and transdisciplinary activities. 

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STUDENTS EXPERIENCE

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The Change Architects program is free and runs throughout the school year.

This year registrations for Level 1 - Series 1 initiation - are only open on: 

October 5, 2023.

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Here are the steps to carry out the activities:

October 5, 2023 - December 25, 2023

After you have signed up, our team will contact you by email to prepare you to apply the Change Architects method. Preparation includes training sessions, monthly discussions and working materials).

SIGN UP WITH YOUR 
SCHOOL

PREPARE

APPLY THE
METHODOLOGY

SUBMIT THE PROJECT

Until:

1 January 2024

October 5, 2023

October 5, 2023 - December 25, 2024

The method can be applied throughout the school year, including the Special and Green Week.

FIND OUT THE RESULTS

January 15, 2024

TEACHERS EXPERIENCE

REGULATIONS

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The Change Architects initiative is open to all children between the ages of 6 and 18. To participate in activities teachers must first register their school could participate.   Activities with students can take place throughout the school year and must follow the Change Architects guide Level 1. The main priority is to use and familiarize yourself with the steps of the design thinking process and less with the final results.

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Each project will be evaluated by a team of experts and people passionate about education and social entrepreneurship from Romania and abroad.  The application evaluation criteria is the correct application of the Design Thinking method according to the project guide.  Additional points will be awarded for innovation, creativity, teamwork and presentation. 

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The results will be displayed on the association's communication platforms.

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Good luck everyone! 

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LONG TERM IMPACT

Based on the principles of continuous and agile learning, there is the possibility to continue the project started at Level 1 Initiation. The project can advance to Level 2 Acceleration and Level 3 - Replication only after completing the previous level and based on the assessment of potential impact. Advancement to Level 2 and 3 is by invitation. The major difference is that as the project progresses, the students become more and more independent. Another benefit is support and connection with mentors and resources to increase the impact of the project. 

The result of this long-term process is asocial innovationdeveloped and validated by students that has been replicated in other communities. Thus, a continuation of the learning process is achieved during several school years and a connection with the real world and the possibility to continue the initiative/project outside schools.

 

Students

Teachers

Involvement

Time

Change Architects
Levels

1

Orientation

For the first time
students discover how they can become agents of change in their communities by developing a
community project 
with the help of the Design Thinking method facilitated by
teachers.

 

2

Acceleration

To the second level students continue to  develop the idea with  the help of a mentor.

 The goal is to increase the impact of initiatives led by students by refining ideas into a product or service that can be replicated in several  places.
 

3

Replication

At level three students will continue to work with the mentor. The purpose of this stage   is to replicate the product or service developed by the students in as many places as possible.
At this level students can access the Social Innovation Fund built with the help of Investors.
 
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