Fixperts – learning to solve problems
Fixperts is a learning programme that challenges young people to use their imagination and skills to create ingenious solutions to everyday problems for a real person. In the process they develop a host of valuable transferable skills from prototyping to collaboration.
Fixperts offers a range of teaching formats to suit schools and universities, from hour-long workshops, to a term-long project, relevant to any creative design, engineering and STEM/STEAM studies.
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We offer free resources to run a one off project at your school or university or a range of packages to develop Fixperts in your institution.
Fixperts offers a range of teaching resources through 6 stages.
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What is Fixperts?
Fixperts is a simple framework for teaching a human-centred design process in schools and universities. We provide teaching resources and training to enable educators worldwide to take advantage of its compelling nature.
Why is Fixperts popular?
Fixperts appeals to anyone who is looking for purpose and meaning in the application of their creativity and skills – that means most people!
Educators like Fixperts because it’s:
Learners like Fixperts because it’s:
We have been developing our Fixperts programme in schools since 2016. A Fixperts project offers students the opportunity to engage with problems taken from the world around them and work in teams to research and develop solutions, sketch out ideas, model prototypes, and make a final product.
Fixperts integrates design & technology, engineering thinking and practical making skills and allows students to develop their creative skills through hands on model making whilst learning to improve their ideas through feedback. Most importantly students develop their creative problem solving skills through identifying, analysing and experiencing real problems seen in the world.
“An inspiring and practical session. The workshop helped me re-evaluate how I teach the design process and I will definitely be using Fixperts’ techniques with all age groups.”
“…a compelling learning experience. They ALL wanted to improve on their work the next day.”
“It was fun and creative and great to be able to think for ourselves and work in teams”
Over 25 universities around the world run Fixperts and engage their students by working with real people and real needs. More than half have included it as part of their assessed curriculum.
Fixperts has worked with universities all over the world to instil the next generation of makers with the desire and tools to design for social good.
A Fixperts project asks students to explore the world outside of their classroom walls in order to find people with problems worth fixing. Using their ingenious design, prototyping and making skills, they create solutions that make everyday life a little better for their Fix Partners.
“The engagement with Fixperts has provided a valuable learning experience and a platform to achieve a meaningful social contribution within a local context.”
“The eye-level communication with the user is really valuable. You learn a lot about how to communicate with the person you are designing for. This is not so common in other parts of the course.”
“One of the big things which is good for the students is the international dimension: sharing, getting your things out there. Students getting 20,000 views. This is massive.”
Anyone with imagination and a basic level of making skills can take up the Fixperts challenge. The guidelines are free and all you have to do is put your team together.
How Fixperts works
Excite creative people with making skills to fix things for others …
Fixperts embark on a process which engages all their creativity and resourcefulness.
… and inspire others to do the same.
People might become Fixperts themselves, or maybe they’ll be inspired to solve the next problem they find. Download Top Tips for Fixperts Guidelines.
Got it? Good. Now watch some FixFilms!
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