The Community Problem Studio
From a real need to a solution in use.
A facilitator plans each cycle, and teams work through eight steps. For each step you can see who is involved and how AI may be used.
The eight steps
| Step | What happens | AI may be | Community partner | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Find the need | Talk to the people affected and a community partner. | Tutor | Joins | Guides the team and plans the cycle. |
| 2. Research feasibility | Check whether the problem is real, big enough and doable by this team. | Own work | Not at this step | Decides: go on, redesign or stop. |
| 3. Ideate | Generate and compare ideas. | Tutor | Not at this step | Guides the team and plans the cycle. |
| 4. Design | Shape the chosen idea and how it will be used. | Co-builder | Joins | Guides the team and plans the cycle. |
| 5. Build | Make a first working version. | Co-builder | Not at this step | Guides the team and plans the cycle. |
| 6. Deploy | Put it in front of real users. | Co-builder | Not at this step | Signs off safety with the Do-No-Harm Check. |
| 7. Pitch | Explain the solution and its business case to the partner and a panel. | Own work | Joins | Guides the team and plans the cycle. |
| 8. Sustain | Plan who owns it, how it is paid for and how it keeps working. | Own work | Joins | Guides the team and plans the cycle. |
The facilitator decides whether to go on, redesign or stop at step 2, signs off safety at step 6, and brings the community partner in at steps 1, 4, 7 and 8.
How AI is used
AI is a tool for learning and building. It is not allowed to replace the learner's own thinking.
- Tutoralways allowed, at every step
- Co-buildermainly in steps 4 to 6, and only if the learner reviews, edits and can explain the result
- Own workAI may not be the author in steps 2, 7 and 8
Three short checks with the tool closed, at the start, middle and end of a cycle, show whether learners have learned or only produced.
Staying safe
- A Do-No-Harm Check is signed off by the facilitator before a solution reaches users.
- A project stops or is redesigned if AI alone would be the source of medical, legal or financial advice, if it collects personal data it does not need, if it targets or profiles individuals, or if it puts a young person in direct contact with strangers.