The B!G Idea

Because one B!G Idea can change our world!

The B!G Idea is a creative thinking initiative that teaches the world’s most in-demand skills to 13 to 19-year-olds. With the help of hundreds of industry professional mentors, who bridge the gap between education, industry, and society, thousands of students develop solutions to issues they identify as major stressors in their lives using creative thinking skills and activating their voices.

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HundrED 2024

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Overview

HundrED has selected this innovation to

HundrED Global Collection 2024

Web presence

2020

Established

10K

Children

2

Countries

Target group

Students lower

Updated

April 2024

We believe that every young person deserves access to transformational skills that will change their future. Creative thinking is the answer to every challenge society and especially young people are facing right now. We bolster the current curriculum and aim to be integrated into the Irish Education system, ensuring that every young person learns the essential skills that matter.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

We must change the way Ireland thinks; current approaches aren't effective. News highlights racism, wars, climate crisis, and more.

Our youth face monumental challenges.

Education favors rote learning, failing to nurture essential skills. We're all accountable for preparing our children for the future, yet they lack crucial abilities. Without action, our young people risk being left behind.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

The B!G Idea is a multi-award-winning, FREE initiative offering 25 workshops to TY, Leaving Cert Applied, Youthreach, and Northern Ireland students. Through inquiry-based learning, they develop critical thinking skills by tackling topics like Climate Change, Diversity & Inclusion, and Mental Health.

Teaching and learning materials are free in a Think B!G class pack, leveling the playing field for all students. Teachers and mentors are supported with tailored CPD. Our content and activities are designed for every learning style and ability, recognised globally for their innovative nature.

Industry professionals mentor students via our Edtech platform, providing guidance on innovative solutions. Our program fosters collaboration between Education, Industry, and Society, empowering students to make meaningful change.

How has it been spreading?

In 4 years, our impactful programs reached 10,000+ youth across 23 counties in 2 countries. We received 1,300+ project solutions, delivered 379 Think-B!G class packs, engaged 1000+ mentors from 8 sectors, and collaborated with 271 companies. Our success includes 8 academic partners, 5 trial programs, and contributions to 1 EU Project, earning 14 awards, including 2 international accolades. We generated a waiting list of over 10,000 students in year 1.
Our outcomes are impressive: 100% of participants learned new skills, 98.5% feel more confident, and 96% believe in the positive impact of our programs. Our integrated survey system captures this data at pre, during, and post-programme stages.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Teachers, mentors and programme partners from industry can all join the creative thinking community at thebigidea.ie, while those from outside Ireland who want their students to learn the most in-demand skill in the world can email us at hello@thebigidea.ie.

Impact & scalability

HundrED Academy Reviews

The B!g Idea prepares youngsters for the world of work by teaching key 21st-century skills. This can have a significant impact in my country as we are facing a crisis where new graduates are not taught appropriate real-world skills.

Every country has professions ready to share their skills. Our students, when presented with real world problems and guided through problem solving methods, will relish and learn from the challenges presented.

- Academy member

Academy review results

High Impact
Low Scalability

High Impact
High Scalability

Low Impact
Low Scalability

Low Impact
High Scalability

Media

All programme materials are provided free to students ensuring equitable access and are designed for all learning abilities. Each and every student starts the programme with the same materials - levelling the playing field for all our learners.

Our creativity cards help students understand the creativity process and help them retain the skills they learn for life!

The B!G Idea's mission is to change our world with creative thinking, connecting young people in education with industry mentors for the benefit of society. We envision a world where our young people, no matter what background, have the creative ability to think B!G and solve all the challenges they have inherited.

Implementation steps

Educators register their interest through our website sharing school or center details of their class size and selecting either a TY, LCA, Youthreach or Northern Ireland programme.

Programme Confirmation

Once we have confirmed the educator has the capacity to deliver the programme they are given login details to sign-in on their bespoke dashboard. This gives them access to all lessons and teaching supports digitally. We have integrated online support to help them if needed through the process.

Student Survey

Pre-programme, students identify topics that cause the most stress. 2024 topics include Climate Change, Cost of Living, Diversity & Inclusion, Mental Health and AI for Humanity. Students work collaboratively through interactive workshops, learning cutting-edge creative thinking strategies and methodologies to research and deeper understand social issues and are guided to propose innovative solutions.

Mentor Matching

Through our unique Edtech platform, mentors are matched with student team projects, offering constructive feedback and advice at key milestones supporting advanced learning.

Learning Materials

Teaching and learning materials are provided free in a Think B!G class pack, levelling the playing field for all students. A 360-degree learning experience, physical learning components help guide the students through the digital programme and retain learning on the programme completion.

Solutions for All

Students upload their solutions and communicate how they have put their skills into practice on the worlds biggest challenges.

Idea Exhibition

Idea's nationally are showcased online, with the most high potential idea's brought together face to face with their mentors to progress student thinking.