5. Team dynamics and final projet#

5.1 Group formation and brainstorming on societal issues (20/10/25 class)#

Goal of this unit#

Identify the issues that interest you within the framework of the class scenario, and then form project groups of 3 to 4 people.

Before class#

  • Explore projects related to fablabs or frugal science, focusing on water quality or environmental challenges. Browse through community projects and online repositories to discover innovative solutions.
  • Select a project that resonates with you and bring in class a symbolic object that represents it. This object will act as your “ambassador,” reflecting your interests and helping to form groups around shared themes.

Assignment#

Individually,

  • Your Object - Briefly describe the object you chose (or drawing you made), describe the project it represents, and why it matters to you.
  • Your Experience - Share how you felt using your object/drawing to connect with others and form a group.
  • Group Thematic - Describe the thematics your group as identified to investigate on.

In project groups,

  • Based on the identified theme, each group should pinpoint one or more real-world issues affecting Tora Torapa. Each group of 4 must address at least one specific problem. A problem must involve something essential to the survival of Tora Torapa’s inhabitants that is currently under threat (a “threatened entity”).
  • For each investigation, answer the following 5 questions:
    • What essential element of the inhabitants’ lives is threatened?
    • Why is it indispensable? What are their dependencies on it?
    • What/who is threatening this element?
    • What are your sources? How did you learn about this threat? (Diversify sources: testimonies, scientific/non-scientific articles, reports, documentaries, etc.)
    • What actions do you propose to defend this element?
  • The issue must be concrete. To achieve this, contact individuals directly affected by the threat in Tora Torapa as soon as possible. Their insights will help you describe the problem accurately and answer the five questions above.
  • Write a scenario by painting a vivid picture of the daily lives of the people affected by the problem.
  • Document your steps on your group project page.

5.2 Group dynamics (3/11/25 class)#

Goal of this unit#

In this unit, you will learn to use tools to function better in a group. Specifically, you will learn how to structure your meetings, define and assign roles, use decision-making techniques, communicate with each other, give everyone a voice and provide feedback.

Class materials#

Assignment#

Individually (to report on your module 5 individual website page),

  • Develop and document 3 tools for group dynamics you have learned and explain and how you could use them in the future.

In project group (to report on the group gitlab page that is going to be set up soon),

  • Explain how your group works.
    • What do you already have in place?
    • How will you, as a group, structure your meeting?
    • What roles have you identified for meetings and projects in general?
    • How will you make decisions within your group?
    • How will you communicate within your group?

5.3 Problem and objective of your group project (4-10/11/25 class)#

Goal of this unit#

Based on your investigation from previous class, choose, define and analyse problems you would like as a group to work on using Latour’s compass.

Before class#

In each project group, ensure you have started to :

  • identify a clear and concrete problem in Tora Torapa.
  • investigate the problem by answering the five questions provided above.
  • contact at least one individual directly affected by the threat in Tora Torapa.
  • written a scenario describing the daily lives of the people impacted by the problem.
  • explored the state of the art (existing research, solutions, or initiatives) related to the problem.

Assignment#

In project group,

  • Create a Latour’s Compass with your problem at the center, surrounded by its positive and negative dependencies. Post an SVG image of the compass on your project group website, along with a brief explanatory text.
  • make sure you have described the problem and answered the following questions regarding the problem :
    • What is the main problem ?
    • What are the facts ? Cite reliable sources.
    • What are the problems behind the problem ?
    • What would be missing to improve the situation ?
    • What ressources do you have to move forward ?
    • What are the next steps ?
  • Describe potential actions to address the problem and justify their relevance.
  • Document all steps, findings, and decisions on your project page.

5.4 24h Hackathon - Prototyping a solution (17-18/11/25 classes)#

Goal of this unit#

Based on your investigation and analysis of your problem, you will design, fabricate and present a possible solution in a very short time. It will force you to make decisions, be creative and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your project.

Before class#

Take some basic materials to work with such as paper and cardboard.

Assignment#

In project group, on your group project page and after these classes,

  • briefly document the problematic you chose to work on.
  • briefly document the solution prototypes you made and how it is answering the problematic
  • post a hero shot of your last prototypes.
  • reflect as a group on the strengths, weaknesses/risks, and challenges you identified in order to successfully complete your project. What are the next steps ?