Pens, Paper, and Big Ideas with I-Think
At the University of Toronto’s Innovation Hub, the I-Think Initiative brought together a unique collaboration between fifteen students—nine from Crescent School in Toronto and six boys from Branksome Hall Asia in Korea—for a problem-solving and creative exploration experience. Rooted in the belief that education should equip learners to hold opposing ideas in tension and create superior solutions, I-Think empowers K–12 students to use integrative thinking to tackle real-world challenges.
Their challenge, presented by U of T, was compelling: How might AI help international students have a better first-year experience? To spark empathy and insight, the students watched a documentary profiling international students and the unique obstacles they face. A campus tour, led by two U of T international students who shared their own stories, brought the issue to life, revealing just how vast and complex the university can feel to newcomers.
After meeting with AI professors for a lesson on the capacity of AI as a tool, the students broke out into three mixed teams and set to work—without computers. Armed only with paper, pens, and curiosity, they gathered qualitative data and began building frameworks. “They were asked to develop frameworks and then challenge the frameworks they built,” said Justin Chau, Director of Outreach. “It was messy but very productive.” Without digital distractions, conversation flourished. “They were looking at each other’s notebooks, discussing their observations, interviewing various university stakeholders, and working out how to address the issues they found,” he added. Chau also encouraged the I-Think facilitators to consider best practices and teaching strategies for boys. They incorporated breaks, opportunities for physical activity, and games, which helped students to maintain their energy and focus.
The students proposed innovative solutions: a personalized multilingual chatbot, an open forum for real-time campus updates, and mentorship programs. U of T staff from the Innovation Hub attended the final presentations, taking notes for possible future implementation.
The experience was a step forward in the burgeoning partnership between Crescent and Branksome Hall Asia. “We are hoping to continue to find opportunities to work together, such as a student exchange program that would support our shared mission to create global opportunities for collaboration,” says Chau.
Reflecting on the experience, Crescent’s Deputy Headmaster Rich Prosser, who also attended the final presentation, remarked, “This was experiential learning at its best… learning becomes most meaningful when students are solving authentic problems that connect them to the wider world.”
