#1 assignment (before class)

Nancy's before-class assignment letter:

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Dear MS Design Expo Class....
Our first class will be on Monday Jan 22...

I think most of you know that the topic for the Design Expo this year is 'Health and Wellness', an important topic, and a very broad one, and we only have 12 weeks. So for the first class, here is what I would like you to read, bring and be prepared for:

1) I want you to spend the next ten days keeping your eyes and ears peeled on this topic...flip through the newspapers and magazines, ( general interest and health), look at the news, listen to conversations at home, on talk radio. Bring in clippings of articles you see about health and wellness, book reviews,etc.. You will be surprised about how much is in the air---inhale as much as you can! Talk to your parents, grandparents, doctors...what are the big issues? challenges? We will spend a good deal of the first class putting a lot of ideas on the board...to see if we sketch out the territory. Don't think about what you might make or technology...we just want to be able to describe the space, as a group. Also, don't get hung up on how loose this description is. Have fun, be aware, raise your consciousness, begin to see what interests you. That's the purpose.

2) to get a sense of global priorities, check out these websites:
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/who/index.htm
http://www.gatesfoundation.org/GlobalHealth/BreakthroughScience/GrandChallenges/Announcements/Announce-050627.htm
3) Come prepared to introduce yourself to me and to the class with a 2 minute presentation that includes: your name and background,why you came to ITP, what you think your strengths are on a team, what skills you would like to develop, some thing about you.... a passion (now or as a kid, a talent, a fear???.... that will surprise people. Practice the presentation. You will stand and give it. If you want to use some tech (e.e power point), bring a thumbstick and load it up before class. I willI will cut you off at 2 minutes.
And here is the description of the Design Expo from MS


also check this out:

http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/publications/reports/2007/top10_2006.htm


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