The Keller Futures Center followed up its spring research into career pathways with its
third program exploring how West Michigan might best encourage alternative forms of transportation within the region using a process known as human-centered design.
The transportation program was sponsored by Amway's Innovation Team and was co-facilitated by the
Luma Institute. According to Liz McCormick, director of innovation at GRCC, the Futures Center is designed "to provide fuel for the region's innovation engine through diverse perspectives. The insights then can be used by the people doing the work. If an entrepreneurial member in the community sees an opportunity, go for it."
"I'm a huge fan of human-centered design," states Luisa Schumacher, executive director of
WMCAT, after participating in the career pathways program. "It was my first exposure to solving community issues using this process and I found it a great way to educate. The ideas that came out of the program are truly relevant." Schumacher adds that their organization will be implementing several of the ideas at WMCAT for career services.
With another program in the works surrounding the health care sector scheduled for later this year, a longer-term goal of the Futures Center will be the introduction of a formal curriculum, focused on human-centered design and experiential learning that will begin in January 2012.
For a recap of the transportation event and to learn more about human-centered design, you can visit a series of articles published by a local journalist who blogged during the event
here. Results of the transportation exploration will also be available on the
Keller Futures Center site. (Full Disclosure: the author of this article has been an active participant in two of the Futures Center's projects and is an adjunct instructor at GRCC)
Sources: Liz McCormick, GRCC and Luisa Schumacher, WMCAT
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs Editor.
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