Rdale students present at Human-Centered Design Conference

Four Armstrong students—juniors Leslie Meda and Rehanna Reshad, and seniors Phat Dang and Sylvia Nygard—presented at a human-centered design conference hosted by Hennepin Technical College.

In addition, the Armstrong students were selected to serve as table facilitators, engaging with educators, peers, business professionals, and parents during the April 24 conference. All four students participate in the R Pathways paid internship program, which provides opportunities to gain career experience in fields of interest.

“My biggest takeaway was how well we all worked together to problem solve at this conference when we were all stakeholders in the topic of work-based learning,” said Nygard. “The table I was student leading consisted of two educators, two employees of a business interested in or involved in work-based learning and myself as the representing student. Together, we were able to come up with several issues within the work-based learning program and develop possible solutions.”

Human-centered design is a problem-solving technique that puts real people at the center of the development process, enabling the creation of products and services that resonate and are tailored to an audience’s needs. Combining real-world activities with instruction occurring both at school and at a community-based setting with an employer, work-based learning provides students with opportunities to explore careers, master specific learning objectives, and earn academic credit under the supervision of a licensed work-based learning coordinator.

“This opportunity gave students hands-on experience in human-centered design and allowed them to contribute to the future of work-based learning in our region,” said Dr. Frank Herman, Director of College and Career Pathways. 

R Pathways offer unique career and college pathways that prepare students for life beyond school by incorporating academic, creative, and technical skills into their curriculum. By taking these career-related courses and immersing themselves in work-based experiences, students can discover how their passions can translate into a successful career.