Empathize
Students will launch their intergenerational documentary project by engaging directly with elders, practicing empathy-building strategies, and beginning iterative development of open-ended interview questions grounded in authentic user research.
Day 1
🎤 Crafting Open-Ended Interview Questions
Knowledge/Skill Building
🕰️ Time Capsule Dialogue Circle
Launch 45m
Define
Students will synthesize insights from their initial elder interviews into a focused research question and actionable documentary problem statement that centers user needs, guiding the direction of their generational film projects.
Day 2
🎯 Crafting a Generational Research Question
Knowledge/Skill Building
🧩 Documentary Problem Statement Draft
Deliverable
💬 Feedback Wall Protocol Round
Project Work
Ideate
Students will generate and refine multiple creative approaches for transforming their intergenerational interviews into compelling short documentary films, using structured brainstorming, peer critique, and visible feedback routines to move from divergent ideas to a focused, user-centered film concept.
Day 3
🎬 Documentary Structures & Story Arcs
Knowledge/Skill Building
🧠 20-Idea Film Brainstorm
Project Work
🤝 Concept Pitch & Feedback Wall
Deliverable
Prototype
Students will build and refine rough-cut versions of their generational documentary films and mini-edits, using structured peer and user feedback to iterate on storytelling, technical quality, and alignment to their research question before final testing and presentation.
Day 4
🎬 Rough Cut Editing Lab
Knowledge/Skill Building
🔁 Revision & Version 2 Export
Project Work
🎤 Elder Feedback Simulation Panel
Community Experience 30m
📝 Feedback Wall Reflection Circle
Deliverable
Test/Present
Students will publicly screen their 4–6 minute generational documentary films for elders and families, gather authentic user feedback, participate in a live storytelling festival, and complete a final reflection and portfolio submission demonstrating iteration, research depth, and growth in empathy and technical skill.
Day 5
🎬 Generations Screening Event
Assessment 45m
🎤 Live Storytelling & Visual Showcase
Deliverable