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So far, I've learnt more about concepts such as using creativity in my thought process, especially regarding innovation. I've discovered divergent and convergent thinking that have broadened my horizons on approaching problems; now, I know how to produce many original ideas before narrowing down and perfecting a concept.

Some of my biggest challenges in Action Project may be actually planning out any creative ideas I come up with. While I usually have a lot of ideas regarding a topic, it will be hard to actually explore them in depth and make them effective when tackling the issue.

On the other hand, I'm most excited about all the innovative projects I'm able to take part in and the end results of realising my ideas in reality. That actual process of entrepreneurship is engaging to me, and taking part in it will make the subject more "fun".

Regarding my Character Strengths, I think my creativity and dedication will be really strong drives in helping with my Action Project They'll aid with coming up with fresh new ideas and allow me to pursue them until they are complete. This might create some issues, such as ideas that are too imaginative to make in real life but I believe I would be able to solve these problems when encountering them.

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Reflective Post : Redesign your Partner's Lunchtime - Week 3

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Reflective Post : Redesign your Partner's Lunchtime - Week 3

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I found activities such as the empathy map and the interview in understanding my partner's perspective; I was able to realise his wants and dislikes, in order to create a solution that would satisfy his problem. In this case, interviewing Ayan allowed me to see how the long distance from his locker would negatively impact his lunchtimes. Furthermore, the HMW-Opposite Thinking and 50 in 5 helped develop skills of creativity and expanded my thinking. Hence, they were very useful in redesigning Ayan's breaks into more engaging experiences.

Additionally, I was able to grow my 5 C's skills, specifically those of Collaboration and Critical & Creative Thinking. The former was a necessary skills for this project, as I was constantly required to clearly communicate with my partner Ayan. We were able to build a strong connection and work well together by bouncing off each others ideas whenever talking. Critical & Creative Thinking was also essential as we needed to create innovative solutions to our partner's problems; by casting aside constraints and expanding our horizons via activities, we could really let our creative thinking run loose in generating ideas.

One difficulty I had when completing this task was formulating a thought-out, in depth plan for my concepts. E.g, my solution for Ayan were to create One-Wheel hoverboard lanes around the school so that he could reach his lockers faster and in a more engaging manner. But it took me more time to get into the specific details of how they would run, what students would need to provide to use them, etc. However, I believe that I can overcome this challenge in the future by taking a more slow approach to formulating ideas; or, I could ask my peers/group members for feedback in thinking out solutions.

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Redesign your partner's Lunch Experience (Student workbook) - Lam & Ayan

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Reflective Post: Spin Off Design Thinking - Week 4

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Reflective Post: Spin Off Design Thinking - Week 4

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This lesson, our group completed the above empathy map in order to get with the mindset of our target audience, and empathise with them in order to understand their core values. You can see from the diagram all of the essential ideals that we've picked out.

Also, we created the following user insight statement in order to clearly display what out target audience seeks; e.g, our goal: Isolated and lonely “John” needs to connect with his neighbours and find people to share/relate his interests to because he doesn’t know or communicate with people in his community, and so has low self esteem and confidence.

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Padlet Post: Design Thinking Solution - Week 5

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Padlet Post: Design Thinking Solution - Week 5

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Through the last Action Project class, our group was able to efficiently move through the checklist and finish brainstorming our main solution. After researching possible ideas to solve the problem, and learning from various communities worldwide, we expanded our horizons for further creativity. Then, via How Might We Questions, we brainstormed our solution: a hobby subscription service called PasTime.

People subscribed would receive a parcel every three months where they get resources that let them learn a new hobby. Then people with similar hobbies are put into small groups to form relationships; but, groups switch with every new hobby. This allows relationships to flourish but people can consistently meet others.

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Reflective Post: Persuader's Toolkit - Week 3

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Reflective Post: Persuader's Toolkit - Week 3

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As part of this lesson, we were required to research a specific type of persuasive technique that could potentially help us with future assignments. My group focused on the device "Opinion as Fact" which used hyperbole and exaggeration to make one's perspective more impactful. It was interesting to note how this extreme display would connect to an audience's pathos and persuade them how one opinion could be the "correct" answer.

Then. after listening to other presentations, I thought that using devices like Forceful Phrases and Expert Opinions were really helpful ; during an advertisement, they would be essential in terms of showing my point to viewers and demonstrating why my arguments were superior.

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Ethos, Pathos, & Logos: How to Use Persuasive Ad Techniques

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Reflective Post - Solution Research - Week 5

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Reflective Post - Solution Research - Week 5

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This article from the World Health Organisation provides a great insight into the specifics of social isolation and who is affected. It additionally provides specific statistics which can be used in our advertisement for logos and ethos.

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Social isolation and loneliness are increasingly being recognised as a priority public health problem and policy issue for older people. During the course of the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030), the Demographic Change and Healthy Ageing Unit will be addressing social isolation and loneliness as one of the themes that cuts across the four main action areas of the Decade.

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Reflective Post - Solution Research - Week 5

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Reflective Post - Solution Research - Week 5

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This blog post, while informal, provides a large list of possible simple solutions that our group can look over to see what specific attributes would help solve our problem. It was using this where we discovered how pursuing hobbies could fix connections.

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We live in a day and age where a lot of people don't know their neighbors. We're a busy people who are often more connected to our phones than to each other. We might be friends with hundreds of people on social media, but we're lonely for true connection.

We want people we can share life with. Friends we can count on. And community that we can share with our kids.

Wanna know something?

You have the opportunity to create those friendships and that community right where you live.

In your neighborhood.

On your street.

On either side of your house.

All it takes is some intentionality. And that's why today I'm going to share with you 19 ways you can connect with your neighbors.
This post may contain affiliate links which means if you make a purchase through one of these links, I may earn a small commission - at no extra cost for you. Read my privacy policy for more info.
Be friendly.

Maybe this is obvious, but smile and speak to the people in your neighborhood. Take your time when you're checking your mail or bringing your trash can to the curb. Notice who is around, make eye contact, and greet them. Being friendly can go a long way towards connections.

Learn your neighbors' names.

Knowing someone's name is a powerful thing. When you address someone by their name, it makes them feel seen and builds a bridge even if you don't realize it. Whether you're new to a neighborhood or you've lived somewhere for years, take the time to introduce yourself to neighbors that you don't know. Then ask them their names - and remember them.

Hang out in your front yard.

My husband is the best at this. A few years ago, he started playing frisbee or "hot box" with our boys in front of our house. Eventually that morphed into kickball games in the cul-de-sac and before we knew it, all the kids on our street started playing in his nightly ball games, and then the parents, too. Now all of the families with young kids on our street regularly hang out on the cul-de-sac while the kids play. And all of that started with my husband spending time in the front yard instead of the backyard.

Take walks around the neighborhood.

If your neighborhood has sidewalks, go on regular family walks. Your kids can ride bikes or tricycles, and you can greet your neighbors as you go. You'll start to see "regulars" who are outside gardening or walking, too. It's a great way to connect!

Welcome new people to the neighborhood.

When you see someone new moving in, go introduce yourself. Or better yet, make them a batch of cookies and take it to them along with a card that has your contact info. They'll be glad to have already made a friend in the neighborhood.

Set a fire pit in your driveway.

There's something about a fire that slows down time and draws people together. Gather around your fire pit in the driveway and see how many people come out of the woodworks to visit. Bonus if you own several camping chairs that you can set around.

Initiate get-togethers.

Whether it's a progressive dinner or a cookout, be the neighbor who gathers people together for fun. I have a friend who hosts themed parties for every holiday. You don't have to go all out - just be the one who initiates.
Related: How to Organize a 4th of July Bike Parade
Pitch in to help each other.

Once, when a storm blew through our neighborhood, the guys on our cul-de-sac all got together to help clean up one neighbor's tree that got knocked down. It would have taken him all day to do it alone, but with all of them working together, it only took an hour or so. It doesn't have to be huge - it could be as simple as collecting mail or watering someone's plants when they're out of town.

Start a supper club.

Find others who enjoy cooking on your neighborhood Facebook page and start a supper club. You can take turns hosting and coming up with themes, and everyone can pitch in each month with food.

Put a Turquoise Table in your yard.

Kristin Schell came up with this amazing idea and tells about it in her book, The Turquoise Table. She found herself in a busy season of life but decided that she could easily make time to spend with the people who lived near her. She painted a picnic table turquoise, put it in her front yard, and as she spent time there with friends, it became a gathering place for her neighborhood. Since then, hundreds of Turquoise Tables have popped up across the U.S. and the world. Read more at Kristin's website.

Invite kids for playdates.

Whether they're preschoolers or teenagers, kids give you a great reason to get to know someone. Invite the kids (and moms) over to play after school or for lemonade and a snack.

Take your neighbors gifts during the holiday season.

Spend an afternoon making something yummy to celebrate the season and share the batch with your neighbors. They will probably be both surprised and touched that you thought of them. You can try one of these neighbor Christmas food gifts!

Start a walking club.

Whether you start a huge group or just get a small group of neighbor friends, walking together gives you plenty of time to visit and get to know each other while also getting some exercise. Kill two birds with one stone!

Use your pets to make friends.

If you have a dog, you know what I'm talking about. Dog owners love to talk about their furry friends, and pets are a great conversation piece (kinda like kids). Let your pets be the gateway to friendship with your neighbors.

Take meals when you know they could use them.

A couple of years ago, one of our neighbors suffered from a cerebral stroke. Because she was incapacitated for so long, we organized a Meal Train for their family so that they didn't have to worry about cooking for a few weeks. If you know that one of your neighbors is going through something difficult, why not take them a meal? You might want to check to see whether any family members have any food allergies first.

Start a book club.

Use that Facebook page again and find other bookworms in the neighborhood. Choose a book and then gather each month to discuss it.

Host a block party.

Invite all the people who live on your street to a block party. Provide the main dish and ask everyone else to bring a side or a dessert and enjoy spending a couple of hours together visiting and getting to know each other better.

Borrow and lend freely.

Do you know your neighbors well enough to borrow a cup of sugar when you run out? While you can let your neighbors know that they can borrow anything anytime they need to, sometimes it takes being vulnerable yourself first. The next time you run out of butter or need an egg, text a neighbor or ring their doorbell and ask if they have some you can borrow. Then, the next time they're in need, they'll feel free to ask you. Men can do the same with tools.

Invite families over for dinner.

It doesn't have to be fancy - in fact, you can start small, like inviting them over just for ice cream cones. People are honored and often taken back when you invite them over, and it's a great way to show interest in getting to know someone better.
Sign up for the 5-day Invite Them Over Challenge for all kinds of tips and ideas!
Whether in big ways or small, connecting with your neighbors doesn't have to be hard. It just takes intentionality and time. And any time you invest in relationships is time well-sent. Do you agree?

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19 Awesome Ways to Connect with Your Neighbors

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We live in a day and age where a lot of people don't know their neighbors. We're a busy people who are often more connected to our phones than to each other. We might be friends with hundreds of people on social media, but we're lonely for true connection.

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Reflective Post: Persuasive Logo - Week 5

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Reflective Post: Persuasive Logo - Week 5

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We used the Adobe Express logo maker in order to create a symbol that we think would truly encapsulate our solutions's meaning; hence the different hobby ideas in the boxes that are all connected by the intercrossing lines. Part of this process also included making our signature logo that included a persuasive technique (Rule Of 3).

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Reflective Post:  Spin Off Issue Discussion - Week 4

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Reflective Post:  Spin Off Issue Discussion - Week 4

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Beginning our Spin Off project, our group wanted to look at the wide range of issues faced by neighbourhoods such as those in the Unley Council. So after looking at the choice sheet, our group decided to focus on lack of socialisation as we believed it was one of the most important issues plaguing our current community. We then participated in another brainstorm, this time deep diving into the the topic to make our question as specific as possible. We came up with:

How could people within a community become more connected via communication?

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loneliness art social media illustration clipart depression elderly photography technology digital

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Reflective Post: Issue Research - Week 4

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Reflective Post: Issue Research - Week 4

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Provides information on how loneliness can affect each individual differently and how once can tell based on unique symptoms. It also goes into the eventual consequences on mental health and wellbeing.

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People around the world have taken unprecedented safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical distancing is critical for slowing the spread of infectious diseases, but experts suggest solitude carries its own health cost: Social isolation can affect mental health.

Currently, COVID-19 physical distancing spotlights the negative effects of social isolation on mental health, but isolation and the loneliness that can result were a widespread problem even before the pandemic. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2018 found that 1 in 10 Americans feel lonely or isolated all or most of the time.

What Is Social Isolation?

Social isolation is not necessarily bad; most people crave solitude at least occasionally. Being alone can be relaxing, meditative, and rejuvenating. Social isolation typically refers to solitude that is unwanted and unhealthy.

Socially isolated people may lack friends or close coworkers, and they often feel lonely or depressed. They can suffer from low self-esteem or anxiety. The following symptoms associated with social isolation are warning signs of unhealthy social isolation:

Avoiding social interactions, including those that were once enjoyable

Canceling plans frequently and feeling relief when plans are canceled

Experiencing anxiety or panic when thinking about social interactions

Feeling distress during periods of solitude

Feeling dread associated with social activities

Spending large amounts of time alone or with extremely limited contact with others

Social isolation can involve emotional isolation, which is an unwillingness or inability to share one's feelings with others. When socially isolated individuals lack emotional interaction and support, they can become emotionally numb - detached from their own feelings.

Isolation and Loneliness

When experts study isolation's causes and impacts, they distinguish between social isolation and loneliness.

Social isolation is an objective lack of social relationships or infrequency of social contact. Loneliness is a subjective feeling of isolation. A person can be socially isolated but not feel lonely. A person can also feel lonely when they are surrounded by people.

Nonetheless, isolation and loneliness are very much linked. Studies of loneliness's causes, symptoms, and impacts shed light on the potential negative effects of social isolation.

What Causes Social Isolation?

Many circumstances can cause people to be isolated from others or to choose self-isolation:

Intimate partner violence. People in abusive relationships sometimes avoid contact with family, friends, or coworkers because of an unwillingness to reveal their true situation.

Loss of loved ones. Isolating after the loss of friends or family members can be common, especially among seniors who have lost many loved ones in their age group.

Mental health issues. Issues such as anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem often result from social isolation, but they can also cause it.

Remote location. Individuals who live in remote areas or who are geographically separated from family and friends due to job duties (military service, for example) can experience feelings of isolation.

Physical impairments. Physical challenges that limit mobility can reduce an individual's ability to interact socially. Some people with physical disabilities feel ashamed of their disability or appearance, which can make them reluctant to interact socially. Hearing and vision impairments can also create a sense of isolation.

Social media. Communication via social media helps some people stay connected to others, but it can lead to isolation if it becomes a substitute for meaningful conversations and in-person socialization.

Unemployment. Shame associated with losing a job or being unable to secure new employment can lead individuals to self-isolate.

Social isolation can also result from physical distancing measures such as those necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Physical Distancing's Effects on Social Isolation

Physical distancing involves avoiding close or frequent interaction with the aim of limiting the spread of infectious diseases. COVID-19 precautions have included quarantining. This is the practice of separating someone who is thought to have been exposed to disease, limiting their movement, and monitoring their health. Quarantining works to help keep an infectious disease from spreading. Potentially exposed people, even those not experiencing symptoms, can be identified, isolated, and, if called for, treated.

Physical distancing guidelines mandated by government officials during the COVID-19 pandemic have shut down or curtailed attendance at venues where people gather, including schools, churches, restaurants and bars, movie theaters, and sporting events.

Physical distancing measures have also caused a profound shift in workplace interactions. Many businesses adopted work-from-home policies, while others were forced to close due to the effects of reduced consumer activity. A study conducted by a Stanford University researcher found that 42 percent of the U.S. labor force was working from home full time during the COVID-related economic shutdown, while 33 percent were not working at all.

With activities related to work, school, church, and leisure reduced or eliminated, opportunities for regular, in-person interactions are typically limited to home environments. COVID-19's sudden, severe reduction in social interaction has resulted in many people feeling lonely.

Effects of Social Isolation and Loneliness

Mental and physical health are interconnected. Social isolation's adverse health consequences range from sleeplessness to reduced immune function. Loneliness is associated with higher anxiety, depression, and suicide rates. Isolation and loneliness are also linked to poor cardiovascular health and cognitive function:

A study led by an epidemiologist at Newcastle University concluded that deficiencies in social relationships are associated with a higher risk for coronary heart disease and stroke.

A study published in The Journals of Gerontology concluded that loneliness was associated with a 40 percent increase in the risk of dementia.

Links between social isolation and serious medical conditions are not fully understood, but ample evidence supports the connection. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology linked social isolation with higher risks of premature mortality. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) points to loneliness and isolation as serious public health risks.

Effects of Physical Distancing

Some effects of social isolation are specific to pandemics or other public health situations that require people to physically distance. Loneliness and depression can go hand in hand with anxiety and fear about the dangers associated with the event that made physical distancing measures necessary.

Plus, people sometimes experience anger and resentment about health and safety measures they find unnecessary or too restrictive. Even people who are supportive of safety-related isolation and quarantine can experience frustration and irritability.

High-Risk Groups

Some groups face challenges that increase their risk for isolation and loneliness:

Immigrants. Language barriers, cultural and economic challenges, and limited social ties can contribute to social isolation for immigrants.

Marginalized groups. LGBTQIA people, people of color, and others who routinely face discrimination and stigma can feel socially isolated.

Older adults. Older people often live alone. Hearing or vision loss can contribute to their social isolation.

Preventing Social Isolation

Strategies for addressing social isolation's negative impacts vary depending on the severity of the related symptoms and effects.

Self-Care Strategies for Physical Distancing

It is important for individuals dealing with social isolation to have self-care strategies. This is particularly true when the factors contributing to isolation present real barriers to accessing outside resources.

For example, a disease outbreak can limit in-person access to health care. People who live in remote areas may not have easy in-person access to mental health professionals.

Individuals can lessen isolation's negative effects by taking steps to address the challenges isolation presents:

Engage in relaxing activities. Exercise and stretching, reading, listening to music, meditation and prayer, journaling, and hobbies can help relieve stress that can be associated with isolation.

Follow a routine. Daily routines promote a sense of purpose and normalcy.

Maintain healthy habits. Eating well, getting enough sleep, and engaging in physical activity can promote better mental health.

Stay connected. If conditions limit in-person contact, phone calls, email, texting, social media platforms, and videoconferencing can be used to stay in touch.

Stay informed. Keeping in the loop can be particularly important for those isolated due to a dangerous threat, such as a disease outbreak. Learning the facts about their risk can help people avoid feeling panicky. That said, controlling media consumption is also helpful -- too much exposure to negative news can feed anxiety.

Post-Lockdown Anxiety

Some people affected by COVID-19 lockdown measures find they are afraid to leave isolation. Anxiety or dread as a response to returning to work, school, or other outside activities can stem from a fear of infection. Fears can also be triggered by the change itself. Leaving the relatively secure and stable environment of one's home introduces uncertainties and disrupts routines that many people have integrated into their "new normal."

Therapeutic Treatment

Individuals suffering from the effects of social isolation should be mindful of their symptoms and seek help from experts if they persist or become severe.

Therapists help by exploring underlying issues related to isolation or self-isolation. For example, a person's isolation may be a sign of depression or an anxiety disorder.

In addition to identifying underlying issues, a therapist can develop a treatment plan that helps people regain a sense of control over their social lives. Types of therapy used to treat social isolation include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy:

Cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT is a talk therapy that helps people become more aware of negative or inaccurate thoughts that affect their behavior. CBT sessions can help individuals identify misperceptions and reshape negative thinking.

Exposure therapy. Exposure therapy programs help people break avoidance and fear patterns. During exposure therapy sessions, in a safe environment, individuals are exposed (in person or in their imagination) to situations they avoid. They confront fears, process emotions, and manage anxiety.

When to Seek Professional Help

Individuals who experience any of the following should consider consulting a medical or mental health professional:

Confused thinking

Delusions or hallucinations

Excessive feelings of anger or fear

Extreme swings in emotion

Inability to cope with daily problems

Major changes in eating or sleeping patterns

Numerous unexplained physical ailments

Prolonged depression

Social withdrawal

Substance abuse

When circumstances limit in-person contact, people can connect with a mental health professional by phone or videoconference.

Some isolated people can find it difficult to ask for help. When others keep an eye out for those who might need assistance but be hesitant to ask, they can play a part in lessening isolation's negative effects on the community.

Creating Healthier Communities

Public health professionals lead efforts to address widespread health issues such as social isolation. For people interested in serving on public health's front lines, Tulane University's Online Master of Public Health (MPH) degree supplies tools to improve health outcomes for entire communities.

Offered through Tulane's School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, the MPH program encompasses a full range of public health practices, including biostatistics and data science, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, global community health and behavioral sciences, and health policy and management.

Designed for early and mid-career professionals called to service in public health, Tulane's Online MPH program develops community-informed, socially conscious practitioners who can assess health risks and their implications for social justice. Program graduates promote health equity and create healthier communities for all.

Recommended Readings
Disease Outbreak Response: Exploring the Critical Roles of Epidemiologists, Disease Detectives, and Other Public Health Experts What Is Health Equity? Ensuring Access for Everyone Why Community Health Is Important for Public Health)
Sources:
American Journal of Epidemiology, "Social Isolation and Mortality in US Black and White Men and Women" American Psychological Association, Keeping Your Distance to Stay Safe American Psychological Association, "The Risks of Social Isolation" American Psychological Association, What Is Exposure Therapy? American Public Health Association, Nature Can Boost Your Mental Health during COVID-19 Pandemic Anxiety and Depression Association of America, "10 Tips to Manage Re-Entry Anxiety Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic" Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Loneliness and Social Isolation Linked to Serious Health Conditions GoodTherapy, Isolation Heart, "Loneliness and Social Isolation as Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Observational Studies" The Journals of Gerontology, "Loneliness and Risk of Dementia" Mayo Clinic, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Mental Health America, Finding Help: When to Get It and Where to Go Pew Research Center, Americans Unhappy with Family, Social or Financial Life Are More Likely to Say They Feel Lonely Stanford News, "Stanford Research Provides a Snapshot of a New Working-from-Home Economy" Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health - Tips for Social Distancing, Quarantine, and Isolation During an Infectious Disease Outbreak TherapyTribe, "Social Isolation"

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Understanding the Effects of Social Isolation on Mental Health

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Social isolation can have a profound effect on mental well-being. Find out how social distancing measures related to COVID-19 are magnifying this health issue.

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Reflective Post: Issue Research - Week 4

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Reflective Post: Issue Research - Week 4

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This blog-like article reveals more about the social obstructions between neighbours and members of the community, and what causes them.

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The community is always facing never-ending social issues. Social issues are rising day by day. People are dealing with these social issues and trying hard to solve them in their way. Every day a new issue stands up; with the outburst of coronavirus, the social problems of the modern world have been increased.

There are countless social issues; every country, religion, and society has social issues. The united states are facing black lives matter, which is a serious social issue, and the list goes on and on. It is hard to put together the most common problem in society and its solution.

Still, we have compiled some of the most common social issues in the community that almost every society faces these days. First, we will discuss what are social ills?

What is the contemporary social problem?

The social problem is a matter that society recognizes as a common problem faced by their community and prevents them from functioning at a precise level. Social problems affect every person in society.

There is a big difference between social and economic problems, but all these problems affect the community directly. It is important to understand that all the things in society are not social problems.

How to characterize a social problem?

We have to understand that everything rises in not social issues. We first have to recognize a social problem. We should check some factors before declaring something as a social problem. The factor includes:

People should recognize the problem.

The problem should be against the values of society.

A large amount of the population should be affected by the problem.

The social problem should be rectified through the joint action of citizens or community resources.

The problem should burden the welfare system like teenage pregnancy.

Types of social problems:

There are different types of social problems faced world wild.

Economic issues

Social stratification

Public health

Age discrimination

Education and public school

Work and occupation

Social disorganization

Social inequality

Some common social issues:

As we have mentioned, what are social causes? Here we will discuss the most common social issues in our community.

Poverty and homelessness:

Poverty and homelessness are some of the most common social problems faced worldwide. According to the report of habitat for humanity, one-quarter of the world's population lives in very bad conditions which harm their health and safety. Many people do not have shelter and basic things for survival. A large segment of the population faces the lack of shelter problem.

Because many people are dealing with poverty and homelessness, it has become a common social problem. Before outburst covid-19, around 10.7% of the population was facing hunger regularly, but this rate is increased after the coronavirus.

Homelessness is one of the biggest problems most countries face, like Australia, Azerbaijan, and Bangladesh. Our society is trying its best to find an immediate solution to this serious problem.

Overpopulation:

About 81 million people add annually to the world. The world is facing the problem of overpopulation. The rate of birth is increasing rapidly. Overpopulation is the cause of other major social problems like unemployment, poverty, and hunger. The report of the united nation says that the rate of population will rise in coming decades. Overpopulation is considered the most effective social problem that directly damages the community.

Many developing countries like America are facing the overpopulation problem. If the population keeps rising, the people need to move to other planets. China's government has imposed the one-child policy to avoid homelessness, starvation, and unemployment caused by overpopulation. People believe we should design a population control mechanism to eliminate this social problem.

Climate change:

Climate change is also considered a social problem as it affects many people. Climate change means warmer winter, extreme rainfall events, and severe storms, which the world is experiencing. Many homeless people do not dare to deal with frequent climate change. Climate change is the most divesting issue which the world has ever faced.

This issue puts a lot of stress on the government in many countries, the snowstorms in America nowadays are unbearable for the government, and they are figuring a way out. Climate change destroys homes, roads, buildings, and transportation, directly affecting the country's economy.

Climate change and poverty are deeply intertwined because climate change disproportionately affects emerging countries. We should stop rising pollution to prevent climate change, as pollution negatively affects the global climate.

Women improvement:

The women's improvement is an extreme issue world wild. Women are fighting for their rights all over the world. There is a big gap between women's and men's salaries in many countries. Nowadays, women are taking part in every aspect of society.

Society is not giving women proper rights. According to the UNICEF report, 12 million girls get married before adulthood, and 98 million girls do not even get a chance to attend school.

Women participate in society, whether a general task or political affairs. Women have proven that they are non-other them. Society should do gender quality and consider women's rights a social problem. The world should seriously pay attention to women's improvement because the world is nothing without a woman.

Health care availability:

If a person is sick or hurt, his first concern will be access to medical care, but many people do not obtain needed medical care because of the high cost. Health care availability is a big issue in our society.

Millions of people worldwide do not have access to quality health care services. People face the problem of health regularly, but they do not have a proper place where they can reach to get better. In Africa, people are dying daily due to some serious disease, and they do not have proper treatment for these death-causing diseases.

Government and non-profit organizations are working hard to deal with this challenge. They are trying that everyone can have access to high-quality medical care. Still, according to the CDC (centers of diseases control and prevention), 97 million people worldwide cannot access health care services.

Vaccine:

At the end of 2019, new death-causing diseases were introduced world wild. In a very short period, the corona was spread worldwide from China.

This disease is called coronavirus, and its scientific name is covid-19. They struggled hard to fight against the disease and made an eco-friendly vaccine. As the disease spread from person to person, its vaccine was really important.

After discovering vaccines, the world was facing a lack of vaccine problems. The vaccine was not available in many countries, so it became a social problem. The community is working and producing more vaccines to finish this social problem.

FAQS:

Is society fixing the common social problem in our community?

All the government, communities, and corporations are trying to fix our society's most common social problems. Schools are implementing anti-bulling programs to prevent the students from bullying. Communities are working to stop childhood obesity.

Governments are working to increase their health care availability. Other than this, many contraries are trying to reduce pollution by planting more trees to avoid climate change.

Does the student face any social issues?

Yes, a student in educational institutes faces various issues. Rape is very common among students; students have been raped by their seniors or teachers very early. Other than some social like sex education, early age pregnancy, abortion.

One of the most viral and common issues among students is immigration. Immigration is a social problem that students who want to study abroad do not get a visa.

Is bullying is a social issue?

Bulling is a very impactful social issue. In America, 20% of students are being bullied. As a large segment of people is facing this problem, then bullying is a social issue. Many people are being bullied online also.

Schools and communities are implementing anti-bullying programs in schools and society to stop this issue. In countries like Pakistan, bullying is very common, but they do not take bullying seriously. Bulling can also cause some other social problems like stress suicide.

Conclusion:

There are thousands of social problems world wild. We should raise awareness of this topic because many people are unaware of our society's problem. Although we have discussed the most common social problem, the list is too long.

It was challenging to select a few of them because the list goes on and on. From the sun's rise, a new social problem is rising. Do we talk about what a social concern is? I hope this article helps you. CWP
Community Watch Paper posts: Best Ways To Build Social Sustainability And Its Importance In A Community How Community Influences Your Behavior References:

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What Is The Common Social Issue In The Community? | Community Watch Paper

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The social problem is damaging society. The problems affect thousands of people's.

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Reflective Post: Spin Off Filming 1 - Week 6

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Reflective Post: Spin Off Filming 1 - Week 6

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Our focus for all of Week 6 for our group is to complete all three stages of our filming; hence, for this lesson (Tuesday) we finished filming our dramatic introduction for our Spin Off advertisement. Filming went mostly smooth, as we just had to follow our pre-written script faithfully. However, one challenge was that we had forgotten to contact the HPE staff to use a soccer ball and such, were not allowed to get equipment from the storage room.

We fixed this issue by substituting the soccer scenes in our script with the actor having his accident on the nearby outdoors gym. This still conveys this element of realism and has the same amount of emotional impact on the audience.

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Reflective Post: Issue Research - Week 4

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Reflective Post: Issue Research - Week 4

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This website provides information on the current standard of wellbeing in Unley Council, and talks about how presently the social isolation affects that community.

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Learn about support services available in our city which help improve wellbeing and social connection for our older residents.

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Reflective Post: Spin Off Filming 2 - Week 6

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Reflective Post: Spin Off Filming 2 - Week 6

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For our second lesson this week (Thursday), we reached out set goal of finishing the filming of all of our explanation section; this is where we actually would talk directly to the camera, and present how PasTime worked. We made sure to include various statistics and information to build the logos in our arguments, as well as appeal to our viewer's pathos; this was accomplished by talking in reasonable tones and using direct phrases such as "you" or "us" to create that sense of belonging.

Also, I was in charge of creating our video's prop, a fake PasTime parcel that helped audiences visualise what our product would actually be. There were no particular challenges during this lesson, so filming went smoothly and efficiently.

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This last lesson (Friday) of Week 6 allowed our group to finish our Spin Off project advertisement, through our combined collaboration and communication efforts. This session started off with an issue, as Ian (our main editor) had found out that some of the files we filmed yesterday had audio glitches; but we were able to swiftly solve this problem by refilming the certain shots in quieter areas.

Then we began on discussing the wider benefits our idea had on Australian councils and neighbourhoods; this included talking about those deeper mental health issues that are spawned during isolation, and how by connecting with like minded individuals, one can find themselves in a better place. We communicated these ideas clearly to the best of our skills, and with the help of our props.

Finally, Ian and I collaborated when making the final edits of our video where he took the main chunk of the work (due to his expertise in the field); he created the transitions and special effects as well as shading. Then I added finishing touches regarding the music and diagrams. Overall, I am proud of the work our group has done and the advertisement created.

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I thought that our group overall did really well on the topic, specifically on the 5C aspect of Collaboration. We were all inclusive while working on the project, making sure to incorporate all of our diverse perspectives on our central topic of social awareness. Yet at the same time, we demonstrated a shared genuine curiosity, found through our numerous interactions as part of engaging in partnership. This helped drive our commitment to the purpose, and was one of the core reasons we were able to deliver this quality product quickly and efficiently.

However, I do think we could have made improvements in some of our Collaboration efforts, namely efforts in conversation. During some periods of the project, we focused on our individual sections of the work (whether that was script writing, editing or prop-making), which caused a lack in communication. While this isn't inherently bad, if I had the chance to do a task like this again, I would prioritise more towards conversation.

Overall, I think that our group created a great Spin Off advertisement, which was effective in representing our message of inter-neighbourhood connection. We owe part of this to the persuasive techniques we used, which were primarily emotive words to connect with the audience's pathos; by creating this connection with their heart through our Communication, we could truly display the importance of our product and how it could help those suffering with seperation.

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The possible solutions in the film 2040 were all extremely creative in helping change the world to become a more sustainable place in the future; however one that I found particularly innovative was the concept of SolShare, which allowed many communities to utilise solar energy and create their own power grids. Their technology allows natives in Bangladesh to take advantage of their solar panels and trade energy to their neighbours, creating miniature systems that let people have access to power while keeping the energy in the local economy. This self sufficiency from major suppliers allows these people to truly thrive, and this movement is only growing as Solshare would allow not only the grids of local neighbours to join, but whole countries could use this sustainable method.

This act deeply resonates with me; I find this act extremely exciting because people in need can be efficiently taught how to help themselves, so that they don't need to rely on big companies. Instead, they can realise the opportunities and resources they own.

This also provoked my Critical and Creative Thinking, a great impact before I would be working on the INNOV8 project in the future. The SolShare project widened my horizons, giving me more of an open mind of how a possible solution could help many in communities. It inspired me to commit to a purpose that would help more of those in societies around me, pursuing widespread problems such as poverty or lack of education.

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Communication Challenge Reaction - Week 11

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Communication Challenge Reaction - Week 11

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This challenge involved 4 people being given a series of phrases that they had to act out, and the other person had to find out the phrases through non-verbal communication. Not only was this activity engaging, but it helped me to understand and develop my own skills regarding body language and hand gestures. This will definitely help in the next assessment - the INNOV8 Pitch.

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Innov8 Focus Idea Brainstorm Week 10  - Part 2

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Innov8 Focus Idea Brainstorm Week 10  - Part 2

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We did further brainstorming to expand upon our solution, breaking down what social immobility actually was. I provided some ideas on what problems it specifically caused, as it would be easier to tackle single negative impacts like poverty instead of a vague concept. Overall we decided to focus on students in high school and university, via feedback by Mr Humphrey who suggested we look at more senior students. Hence, our final solution was to create a scholarship service that would make the most change.

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Innov8 Focus Idea Brainstorm Week 10  - Part 1

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Innov8 Focus Idea Brainstorm Week 10  - Part 1

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This lesson, we were given sticky notes and wrote problems that affected our daily lives, grouping them into categories around the room. This activity not only stretched my horizons but also improved my creative thinking skills regarding brainstorming this large collection of ideas before critically choosing which ones I leaned towards, For me, I tended to gravitate to issues regarding social benefit. This is partly why our group decided to create an issue for social immobility (classes stuck in poverty), and through a mindmap, we found that this was mostly due to a lack of education.

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With our brainstorming slides done, we used it as a basis to create an empathy map that displayed the needs of our target demographic. One key takeaway from this was the extra limitations and responsibilities students from low-income households might have , such as less time for activities because they work part-time to support their families. Thus, why we need to fix this in our solution, so that these gifted students can enjoy extracurriculars without any problems.

This was very effective in helping us visualise the daily life and needs of students under our solution, and we were able to use our communication in order to collaborate on this character study,

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Innov8 Working on Solution - Term 2 Week 1

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Innov8 Working on Solution - Term 2 Week 1

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As our first lesson back from holidays, we started to improve our idea slides by looking at the user insight statement, taking what we learnt from our empathy map to directly answer the problem. This lead to us brainstorming "how might we" questions , which required even more character and critical thinking. We had to imagine ourselves as our case study Keith, and think about what problems he might face as a disadvantaged student, creating concise questions that targeted key points in the overarching issue.

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Current problem: It tackles social immobility; we want to provide higher education and career opportunities to those with low-income status, breaking the cycle of poverty

How is the use of the empathy map evolving our idea? What new ideas or insights have you uncovered from this process?

The empathy map allowed us to 'humanise' the problem by creating a first-hand experience of somebody that suffers all the negatives of poverty. As a result we could uncover many barriers that stand in the way of our current problem, and what our target demographic needs;e.g, how to cater to their lifestyles and responsibilities. An empathy map generally would make our solution a lot more effective.

How is our group collaborating? What can I do to improve collaboration within my team?

Our group collaborates well since we delegate work for efficiency but also come together to discuss lots of details.

One thing that I would particularly like to spotlight is the communication we share, as I particularly have been expressive in contributing some of my ideas in fixing parts of the problem A slight issue is that general productivity could increase but I could fix this by encouraging others during group and holding more people's effort accountable.

What barriers are we currently experiencing?

Because we are all going to be away for Duke of Ed, a big challenge will be managing our time in and out of class to ensure our work is still of high quality. Also, we are struggling with the details of our solution -- how we get sufficient funding and how do we make it stand out from other services via benefits?

What are our next steps?

We need to narrow down all the details for our scholarship program next lesson, then start working on the marketing pitch. I think we shouldn't have a big problem with the marketing pitch, as the spin-off project provided lots of good feedback on how to make our service appealing; what we really need to work on is having a solid solution.

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This lesson included further improvement on the slides completing "opposite thinking" exercise to stretch our convergent thinking. This allowed us to collaboratively think of more features we could add to our scholarship program. We had to keep in mind our time management because our whole group would be on Duke of Ed next week, so we were able to negotiate a plan with Mr Humphray. This opposite-thinking activity was really good in allowing for our creative thinking to thrive; it allowed us to let loose and explore possibilities with our solution.

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Today, we upgraded our scholarship idea even further by elaborating on how students would be able to enroll and how they could get through their learning via a mentor they could check in with every month or so. Hence, letting them complete their scholarship while being consistent with their academic achievements. Our group member Katie came up with the original prompt, but through our extended collaboration and critical thinking, we were able to patch up any flaws with it and make it more effective in a real-life setting.

After coming up with this idea, we used further communication with Mr Humphrey who emphasised the importance of our incentives/wow-factor. From this feedback, we built on the importance of our passion-based and need-based, not merit-based system and our mentor program.

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Disadvantage Scholarship Research - Week 3:

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Disadvantage Scholarship Research - Week 3:

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In order to confirm that people applying for the scholarship were truly disadvantaged, we conducted research using a poverty lines study conducted by the Melbourne Institute. From this, we were able to create a Family Income Table, that if your household aligned with, you were eligible for the scholarship.

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The table using the beside research, which I created to confirm a household's legibility for the scholarship.

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We also wanted to research on existing scholarship opportunities for disadvantaged people, to see what strategies they were using; the main result was for the Questbridge organisation.

We like how it:

Advanced education for underprivileged students

Showed the link between applicants and their partner schools

Has a financial criteria to determine whether students are truly from a low-socioeconomic background

Is an overall well-connected organisation getting low-income students into elite schools they would otherwise not be able to go to

However it did have limitations regarding:

Questbridge is only available to US students; we want to make it based locally in SA, before spreading

Questbridge is very merit-based; we want to make it more inclusive, and based on poverty situations

Questbridge is to get into college; we want to make our solution for public and private high schools

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We re-pitched our idea to Mr Humphray to ask for any feedback before our pitch. He pointed out some concerns about our plan being too classist because of the transition of public to private schools. Instead, he proposed staying with public schools and having our big focus be a program like the IB. We discussed the redesign of our solution: offering scholarships for underprivileged students to move to public IB World Schools in SA to do the Diploma Program. Most of our other details, like the application process and mentor program, would remain the same, but he would have liked us to touch more on how they would actually work.

This conversation touched on 3 of the 5 Cs:

Communication and collaboration to see what to change from our original idea and develop one that is more positive and effective. This was clear when we had the feedback given to us, and when we were required to work as a team to incorporate it back into the solution.

Critical and creative thinking to develop the new idea, and brainstorm ways that this could be changed to fit the feedback

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In order to adapt our solution and case study more to working towards the IB scholarship in Years 11 and 12, I researched more on the curriculum. This had two main benefits which were making our case study of Keith more specific in what he did as part of our scholarship in the International Baccalaureate, and also let us adjust our benefits to match with the advantages the IB offers.

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* Interdisciplinary subjects are marked with an asterisk.

Interdisciplinary subjects enable students to meet the diploma requirements for two groups, whilst studying one subject. Students then select another subject to complete the requirement of six.

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Learn more about the International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme's curriculum and the subjects it includes.

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CAS Involvement in the Scholarship - Week 4

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CAS Involvement in the Scholarship - Week 4

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Mr Humphray brought up the idea that an incentive for mentors to join our mentorship program could be to complete their CAS requirements. As I was the main person in charge of developing our mentorship program, I made sure to spend extra time going over what exactly it was; as it turns out IB students have to complete a service for their diploma, I presented the mentor program as an effective solution for them to help their younger peers.

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Learn more about creativity, activity, service (CAS), a fundamental part of the International Baccalaureate® Diploma Programme.

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What aspects did you see in other groups presentations that were really strong?

I liked their ideas and their persuasive techniques. Some of the ideas were very unique and how they were conveyed to persuade the audience was very interesting.

What aspects did you see in other groups presentations that were less successful?

Presentation skills

Some presentation skills I liked were using clips of themselves using their "product". I put product in quotations because they of course didn't have one as it would be a waste of time.

Communication and persuasive techniques used

Some communication and persuasive techniques I liked were the demonstration of the product, but not in real time. I liked the effort put into the videos.

What were the really great ideas?

Some of the great ideas were the liquid lenses. Although it doesn't really seem possible, it is unique and would benefit people with eye strain. I also liked the idea of self defense classes at school. It would be cool learning how to defend yourself, but with so many students on campus who know how to fight, it would be weir

What feedback have you received from staff and students about your own INNOV8 Pitches? This can include self reflection for improvement.

Some feedback we received was making our solution clearer and slightly better. Having only 5 students eligible for the scholarship isn't enough really to keep the program going. We should've also addressed the problem clearer and better in general, making it more emotional and such.

Which of the 5C’s do you feel you and your group struggled with the most? Why is this and what could you do differently?

Although we were able to achieve all of the 5C's during our working process, we may have struggled with collaboration at times. This then lead to a decrease in group productivity, so not a lot of work could be completed. We definitely could have gone more deep into idea analysis and feedback if some of our teammates contributed their ideas more.

What improvements, changes and tweaks do you need to make before INNOV8 EXPO on Tuesday 20th June?

We could improve the solution a bit by going more into depth on our solutions, and explain more about how our features will actually work. We could achieve this by working on our case study as well as adding more statistics that can back up our claims.

Furthermore, our online presence such as our website and social media could have been improved.

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After receiving feedback from our pitch, we wanted to work immediately on our solution to prepare for the upcoming Innov8 Expo in 3 weeks. As our main weak points regarding our scholarship were that we needed to go more into depth on how specific features worked, we created a brainstorm for all of these topics. We then used our creative thinking to create as many explanations as we could for how these features would work in a real life scenario, before using critical thinking to cut down the more effective ones.

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In order to break down how our scholarship worked further, I decided to create an explanation of how to increase Academo's impact as a long term service. Via collaboration with my teammate Fahad, where we expressed our own ideas and gave feedback to the other, we came up with a major selling point. Academo would know accept 10 students each IB offering school, around 50 students overall annually (while also covering the costs of uniforms and extracurriculars). To increase our impact over the next generation, we would expand on our website and social media that directly targets our demographic.

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Throughout the course of this week's lessons, we created elevator pitches; short pitches that could be given to attendees that came to our Expo stall, giving them the main points of our solution, but making it quick and memorable. Originally, we made it 1 minute, but over the course of 3 lessons we were able to condense it to 30 seconds.

I was particularly involved within this process, using my critical thinking to constantly look over the text; I needed to cut any unnecessary words that wasted time, potentially boring attendees, but still keeping it catchy and informational as possible. Our final pitch was:

Don’t you just hate wasted talent, students who could be the next generation of innovation falling short because of their living conditions? Imagine all those students finally able to access a world-recognised education. Full fees covered, no strings attached.  Academo is a scholarship for the talented unfortunate, and every scholar gets a mentor, IB grads who know exactly what it takes to succeed. They'll be the scholar's personal guide, from picking subjects to crushing exams and all in between. This isn't a handout; it's a hand-up, for students and their schools. When a scholar moves on, we help their old school out with donations to keep their academic game strong. Let's make education about talent, not just who can pay.

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Consider the parts, purposes and people who interact with our system

The students who enrol in Academo to study in IB

The original schools from which students leave

The partner schools from which students join

In what ways could it be made to be more effective?

Bigger reach on young generations

Advertising Online

Radio advertisements

We have to have a longer impact on the students

Maybe stick with them through more of their academic life

Reach more schools

Regional schools → online courses

Expand mentorship program to include more professionals

In what ways could it be made more ethical?

More charity work

Expand the donation program for the old schools

More benefits for the underprivileged students

On top of paying for the IB program fees, we could pay for their extracurriculars

In what ways could it be made more beautiful?

More advertising

A website that is simple and elegant to emulate the prestigious vibe

Billboards and more physical advertisements

ACADEMO MERCHANDISE

Fancy acceptance letter and package like colleges in the US

We can hold a fundraising gala and event

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For today's lesson, we completed an activity where each of us received either a specific demographic and had to pair up with 2 other people who got different demographics; the result was the creation of a good/service that would fit all of them. I received "20-30 year olds", and the people I went with had "sold for $50" and "make it portable". So, using our collaboration and creative thinking skills, we worked together in creating the good Breezy. It was a portable fan that could be attached to the back of airplane or bus seats that could spray hot and cold air in any direction at you, providing a more comfortable travelling experience.

I really appreciated this activity as it repeatedly helped build my creative thinking, by making me think outside the box while communicating with others.

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Starting on this project a fortnight ago, I completed our website today in order to showcase during our expo; guest can access it through display laptops or an attached QR code they would be able to scan.

I primarily used creative and critical thinking during the formation of our website, first thinking about all the needs our target demographic had when accessing. Maybe they would have questions about our mentors, wanted to apply or wanted to donate to our growing cause. I gathered all of these creatively thought out ideas, and used critical analysis to see which parts were essential and how I could solve them. This lead to different pages of the website being created such as a Frequently Asked Questions page and a "More on our Program" page. I then finally made sure to make each section well thought out and contain information that we had created, as well as redirects to links from the official websites of IB partners.

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Academo is a not-for-profit organisation that helps gifted students overcome the financial barriers on accessing international-level education by earning scholarships for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program in South Australian high schools.

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To provide attendees with more information on how our mentor program works, one of the main pieces of feedback given to us in our Innov8 Pitch, I created this timeline in how mentors and mentees would interact. I mainly used creative and critical thinking in this process, like how I did with the website; however, I also communicated frequently with Yushi who was currently working with our case study. This way, I could incorporate more of the specifics of the mentor program into Keith's (our character) journey and get "first-hand" experience of how impactful mentors could be.

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A Timeline of all the meetings Mentors will have with their younger children

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In this Action project course, I have learnt a lot  about how I can participate in entrepreneurship, and really focus on critical issues that are currently plaguing our society. Some of my key skills that I’ve developed have been my creative thinking and critical analysis abilities, which were only able to be improved through the various activities that we completed in class, designed to stretch my horizons; e.g, the target demographic activity where we paired up with other people to create entirely new services. Overall my understanding of problem solving has been changed for the better, encouraging me to conduct thinking in a wider range before analysing them to be realistic yet effective.

My communication had been developed through my Innov8 Pitch, where I could test my presentation and expression skills in order to show the benefits of our solution: a scholarship that allows those in poverty to succeed. My collaboration improved by consistently being productive with my teammates, giving advice to each other’s piece of work to achieve our common goal. My creativity and critical thinking were extremely developed via the thought-provoking activities we were given, encouraging me to think outside of the box. I learnt that my ideas needed to be as unique and varying as possible, before I made them work in reality to create a solution that people would invest towards.

These skills can all be applied into every part of my life, but could prove particularly helpful in future pathways I could take as I plan to follow a career in law. In this area of study, creative and critical thinking is needed to unpack information and think of effective yet realistic solutions to problems in order to create benefits for others. Furthermore, communication will be needed to express my ideas to others regarding the topic at hand and how it relates to the law.

One of the main challenges I faced was the effect of my Duke Of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey, which made our whole team miss Week 2 of school due to a camping trip in the Flinders Ranges. As a result, we got a lot less time than other groups in preparing for our Innov8 Pitch but we were able to overcome this challenge via our consistent collaboration. My character strengths are teamwork, as I made sure we were all organised and working on different topics that could come together for our overall solution. I also encouraged perseverance within our group, so that we were all focused on achieving our goal and putting in our personal best effort.

As a learner, I think Action Project has developed me very holistically, giving me these critical and creative thinking skills which I can put to use in all my other subjects. From maths assignments to science questions, I can still use my divergent and convergent thinking to problem solve in my unique yet effective way. I was also able to improve my character strengths, reinforcing my signatures which I was already proficient in, but also stretching my lessers to make me more well rounded.

On a personal level, I have learnt that I have this passion for presenting and expressing my own ideas, which I have developed to be creative and critical in real life scenarios. I also learnt that I enjoy tackling hard-hitting social issues, and creating solutions for them.