Jag Challenge

The Jag Challenge

Welcome to IU Indianapolis's Jag Challenge!

Students who participate each year (either during Bridge or the First-Year Experience) have the opportunity to work within multiple challenge spaces to identify wicked problems and work with a diverse team to solve those problems as you conduct research, ideate solutions, prototype, and present those solutions. It is fun, engaging, and allows you the opportunity to grow your skills in innovation, creativity, problem solving, and team work!

The challenge spaces we have had students engage with are:

  • Creating a Welcoming and Diverse Place at IU Indianapolis
  • Sustainability at IU Indianapolis
  • Global Engagement at IU Indianapolis
  • Strengthening the IU Indianapolis and Indianapolis Relationship
  • Health and Wellness

Why the Jag Challenge?

  • Help the IU Indianapolis and Indianapolis community on or before your first day
  • Be a part of a diverse team as you solve wicked problems
  • Create amazing solutions
  • Interact with students from across campus and diverse backgrounds
Jag Challenge student testimonial

The Jag Challenge process

Kickoff and research

You'll start by participating in a kickoff session where you'll meet your team and learn about your chosen challenge space for the first time. Then, you'll do some research on your challenge space. We have resources (including interview videos) to help you learn about your challenge space.

You'll then do some research of your own as you interview one or two people about your challenge space (outside of your team). Lastly, you'll develop an empathy map (a tool to help you identify your target audience) and decide on one problem to tackle within your challenge space. Don't worry! We'll walk you through each step of the process.

Ideation

This is where the fun begins! You'll work with your team to come up with as many ideas as possible and then narrow it down to three. This will be part of a timed activity in your class. You'll then take those three possible solutions and share those with others outside of your team to get feedback on which you should go with. It's time to get the sticky notes out!

 

The Jag Challenge Showcase

It's time to prototype and come up with a presentation for your identified problem and chosen solution. You'll present your idea at the Jag Challenge Showcase. This is a huge experience as you share in a science fair style venue. Members from Indianapolis and the IU Indianapolis community will come around to hear your pitch (in five minutes or less).

Reflect on it

You'll take a dedicated time to reflect on what you learned. What was your challenge space and chosen problem? How did you get there? How did your team do? This is a crucial activity to the process. You'll also have the opportunity to share how you feel the Jag Challenge can be improved.