Designing for a Future Where No One Feels Socially Isolated (FutureLearn)

On this two-week course, you’ll hear from a diverse range of experts on the topic of social isolation, including; Ibrahim Javed (Founder of Deen Developers), Alex Fefegha (co-founder of design studio COMUZI and lecturer in creative computing), Adah Parris (Futurist, Systems Thinker, Storyteller, and Artist).
Work together to imagine a future where social isolation is minimised for all

One of our collective, most basic needs as humans is socialisation. On this course, you’ll explore social isolation in a variety of settings, looking at the disproportionate impact of social isolation on vulnerable and underrepresented populations.
Explore the role of technology as a vehicle for change

You will look at how we use technology as a tool to connect and help us understand our relationship with ourselves, with others, and with our environments.
Empathy in Design Thinking increases the opportunities that technology can bring

By the end of this course, you’ll develop an understanding of the fundamentals of Design Thinking, a non-linear and iterative process used by many technology companies, like Samsung, to solve problems and create innovative solutions.

Throughout this course, you’ll build your confidence through non-formal debating activities, explore alternative storytelling frameworks, and learn action-based critical thinking and empathy mapping techniques.
Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow

This course forms part of Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow programme, offering young people a chance to explore the role tech can play in solving some of society’s biggest issues.

Design the future. No qualifications needed.

Syllabus

Week 1: An introduction to social isolation

Week 2: Ideation

Learning on this course

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Reflect on how social isolation relates to you today

- Compare and discuss the state of social isolation in the UK today

- Identify and interpret opportunities and challenges when designing a future where no one feels socially isolated

- Explore the opportunities that technology can bring when designing a future where no one feels socially isolated

- Understand the fundamentals of design thinking

- Develop an understanding of the importance of empathy when design thinking

- Develop a playful attitude to ideation in response to the proposition: Designing a Future where No - - One Feels Socially Isolated

Who is the course for?

This course is designed for young people aged 16-25 from across the UK who are interested in learning how to innovate and drive positive change for themselves, their communities, and the world.

If you are curious about the possibilities of technology in solving pressing world issues, this course is for you. No formal education experience required.