Eiffel Over

Tag: experiential learning

  • Reflections on transformational innovation

    These are my reflective notes as I work through chapter two of Daniel Wahl’s ‘Designing Regenerative Cultures‘. My aim in this reading is to find clues as to what a set of principles for regenerative design for engineers could look like.

    Wahl introduces three types of innovation:

    • Sustaining innovation – that which keeps the current system working
    • Disruptive innovation – that which introduces new operating systems
    • Transformative innovation – that which is the ‘long-term innovation process of fundamental changes in culture and identity.

    He argues that if we want to achieve a transition towards a regenerative culture, it is this third kind of innovation that we need.

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  • #17 Tabitha Pope – Participatory Architecture – Show notes

    #17 Tabitha Pope – Participatory Architecture – Show notes

    Tabitha Pope is an architect and lecturer, with a specialism temporary structures and participatory architecture and a passion for work that sits at the boundary of art and architecture. In this episode, produced in support of International Women’s Day, my colleague Lucy Barber interview Tabitha about:

    • What is participatory design and what benefits does it offer us in the climate emergency.
    • Challenging power in order to make architecture a more inclusive space for all under-represented groups, not just women.
    • How her practice of carpentry allows her to intervene in the design process in a different way.
    • Establishing a nature connection to help designers and citizens alike tackle the biodiversity crisis.
    • Stepping into a space of vulnerability in design in order to do things differently.
    • Creating spaces for joy and encounter to tackle loneliness and build resilience in communities.

    Listen on Apple Podcasts , Sticher or by download here.

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  • #15 Show-notes – Oliver Broadbent interview by Alexie Sommer – Creativity, climate and clowning

    #15 Show-notes – Oliver Broadbent interview by Alexie Sommer – Creativity, climate and clowning

    I spend most of my time designing creativity training for engineers. In this episode we flip the format. Alexie Sommer, Independent Design and Communication Director and collaborator on many of my projects interviews me about why I set up Eiffel Over and Constructivist Ltd, and what our plans are for designing creativity training for engineers in 2020. We get into:

    • Techniques for teaching creativity
    • Our programme of training support people tackling the climate emergency
    • And what engineers might learn from clowns.

    Listen on Apple Podcasts , Sticher or by download here

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  • Secretly teaching design – notes from our curriculum planning day at Imperial

    Secretly teaching design – notes from our curriculum planning day at Imperial

    I am just back from taking part in a Design Thread workshop at Imperial College, the aim of which was to co-ordinate activity between the various design-relevant courses on the undergraduate civil engineering course at Imperial. Here are some reflective notes as I whiz home, during the writing of which I came up with the notion of ‘secretly teaching design‘. (more…)

  • Notes from ISEE 2018, UCL London

    Notes from ISEE 2018, UCL London

    A very interesting couple of days at the 7th International Symposium of Engineering Education down at UCL. Here’s something I found interesting which I am sharing with colleagues and collaborators.

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  • Notes from Hazel Hill/Slow Learning for teaching sustainability

    Notes from Hazel Hill/Slow Learning for teaching sustainability

    I recently returned from a conservation weekend at Hazel Hill wood, the sixth such weekend in which I have participated, and a visit that prompted some more thoughts on ways we can teach sustainability in universities.

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  • The Big Rig at 3 years old

    This is the third March in a row that I have facilitated a low-carbon skills competition at the Big Rig, which makes the Big Rig 3 years old.


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