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= Strategy #3: Implementing a space that focuses on developing creativity = == Creativity Lounge == We will develop the first ever “Creativity Lounge”: this is a space where students –and teachers! – can give a better use to their free time by investing it in practicing old hobbies, learning new skills, playing challenging brain games or perfecting a handcraft, that might add to what they learn in the classroom. Who said Chemistry students cannot complement their formal studies by learning how to cook? What about aspiring Doctors and knitting for fine motor skills? We bet engineers could use some dynamic problem solving challenges! '''Tactics + Milestones''' #Find the room to implement the Creativity Lounge#Define the look and feel of the Lounge. We are thinking tall tables and stools, erasable surfaces on tables and walls, colorful ambiance, puffs, a lego station (even with a lego wall), etc.#Find funding with alumni and then go to the deans; they like it when students work hard to get their own sponsors before going to ask for money where they know they will get it (mainly because it is the department’s mission to foment high impacting student projects)#Define schedules and regulators. Who is going to monitor the space?#Define regular material providing alliances to keep the Creativity Lounge up and running nonstop. == Adequately equipped Makerspaces == We will inaugurate a new space in our University with inspiring and work inducing decoration, where people can go work in a particular area of interest. We will eventually be running a business, engineering and design makerspace at the University, but initially we will have to pick one and build on from there. Our first choice is the Business makerspace given that it doe not require any heavy machinery (as is the case of the engineering makerspace) nor does it require a constant replenishing of expensive materials (like it usually happens in design makerspaces). A business makerspace, in terms of equipment alone, does not require more than a few large sheets of paper with Business Model Canvases printed on them. '''Tactics + Milestones''' #Define the look and feel of the Makerspace. Tall tables and stools, erasable surfaces on tables and walls, colorful ambiance, puffs, a lego station (even with a lego wall), materials for rapid prototyping, etc.#Find the space where the first Makerspace will be implemented.#Define events that will take place inside the Makerspace. As one of our members learned in his videoconference of session 2, keeping a business makerspace up and running is not the hard part…it is getting people interested when an event is going to be held in the facility.#Define communication channels so students have the makerspace top of mind.#Specify potential alliances with I&E oriented courses, so students can receive some sort of bonus or extra credit in attending the Makerspace’s events.#Specify the regulation of the Makerspace. Who is going to monitor the space? Is there going to be an expert in charge who can offer valuable input on demand? == Renovate current work spaces to enhance productivity and innovation. == At the moment, there are multiple spaces at the University that are presented to be some sort of innovation hubs. Nonetheless, these creative spaces are not in mint conditions, so we would like to open a competition among the students, to see who can come up with the best, most viable and practical renovations for these spaces! The idea is to give the students a voice in how they want their spaces to look like, to ensure that they will indeed be coming to the space and taking the best advantage out of it. '''Tactics + Milestones''' #These workspaces should be spots on campus where you can go if you have an idea but you don´t know how to start pursuing it.#Define which spaces are in desperate need to be renovated, and which of those can we actually intervene#Set up parameters, terms and conditions of the competition. This will orient participants in what is expected from their submissions.#Launch the competition#Forge an alliance with a particular course of the Design, Architecture, or Arts curriculum that might be interested in making the vision a reality once the winner has been chosen. This is far cheaper than hiring an external provider of the renovation service, and might be a great hands on learning opportunity for students.