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WORKSHOP ‘BIG IDEAS’ - identify hypes, undercurrents, emergent ideas and building blocks in your program

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^{“It was inspiring and fruitful [for me as participant of the workshop]. I realised a course has baseline building blocks versus the trends and hypes that come and go. I realised where to invest in most. I am taking this further for my own field for sure.”

dr. Roberto Rocco}^{Senior Associate Professor of Spatial Planning and Strategy at TU/Delft Faculty of Architecture and Built Environment, Governance specialist focusing on Spatial Justice and Governance for Just Transitions.}

^{“It was unexpected. (...) Instead of themes we would have grouped in a very concrete manner, it was all much more layered and strategic. Much more academic than I expected - for the good. We identified undercurrents, hypes and baselines and all in all created much more depth.

It was really useful to look at our programme like this - the graphical output we received, shows rising and declining lines that require attention - which words/concepts we are going to use, and what aspects do we need to adjust in the background? Merely producing some themes with the team would have been irrelevant to me - what we did now, truly gets us further in the coming year as we reimagine the programme. I got what I needed.”}

Dr. Stefan van der Spek
Associate Professor of Urban Design at TU/Delft Faculty of Architecture and Built Environment, Programme Director of MSc MADE at AMS Institute and co-director of VR-BK at BK-LABS

Photo: The AmsterdamInstitute for Metropolitan Studies (AMS), and the workshop in the afternoon. Curious? Read more below or directly on our events page.

Are you seeking to transform the scope of your course or degree, and do you long to transcend and go beyond the current set of learning objectives in the curriculum, but are unsure where to begin?

Are you about to design a new programme, and would you like to map out with your teaching team the possible content contours?

Or perhaps you have to re-design a programme, due to budget cuts, and are considering content-wise what should remain, and how to keep things simple?

We offer a playful workshop that inspires, motivates and fires your academic team of lecturers/researchers using co-creation to explore the range of what’s possible.
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OUTPUT

A high quality visualisation done by a graphic designer, showing - within the scope of the course/degree - the big ideas identified over a period of time, to distinguish baselines, trends, undercurrents and ways forward for the next ten years. The visualisation can be used for further dialogue, reports etc.
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FACTS AND FIGURES

Startingdate: we can determine the best moment with you.

Duration: one morning or afternoon (2,5 hours) [full day also possible].

For whom: for academic lecturers/researchers involved in the execution of your programme / course / degree.

Price: € 1250,- A tailor-made quotation is available after we identify the scope of work.

Language: English.

Location: we agree on a suitable location together.
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TRANSFORMATION

Unleash the power of big ideas for your course or degree. Big ideas create more oxygen in the curriculum, where sometimes learning objectives can stifle. Together we identify hypes, undercurrents, emergent big ideas, and building blocks within your curriculum. With big ideas we can start to think about how your curriculum might become resilient - and stand the test of time for up to a decade (Breimer 2026).

Rather than a top-down approach, we engage with your research/teaching team, piecing together what their insider knowledge is of the hype cycle of key big ideas in their respective fields. In a hands-on way, we identify which big ideas are waning, which ones are remain relevant, and which ones are in ascendance.

Together through co-creation we strategise the scope of your course/degree, by placing the big ideas in a time frame of paradigm shifts. Once we visualise the outcome of this scoping exercise, you will realise just how closely connected this is to the financial health of your course/degree over time. The reason is, the simplicity that the excercise entails.

We also consider the human resilience of your team. We strive to incorporate the generational and conceptual differences in your lecturing/teaching team, paying attention to all concepts as they have evolved over time and linking them to each team member’s own work experience and the stage in their careers, with the objective of creating a fulfilling and meaningful working environment in which to work.

We do not focus on instruction or didactics. There are already plenty of teacher training courses such as the Basis Kwalificatie Onderwijs (BKO) out there, that focus on didactics. The point for us is, not to tell your teaching team what they should do, but to provide them with resources that may inform their educational artistry enhance their educational creativity (after Stenhouse 1988 and Eisner 2001).

It is invigourating and refreshing to have an external, independent senior advisor lead a process to explore new horizons and lead the dialogue and discussions with your teaching team. The independent senior advisor leading the workshop - truly comes in as an equal partner, for each of your academic team members, and to the group. Through visualisation, hands on work, exploring concepts and ideas, engaging in dialogue and stimulating or even provocative alternatives, a new picture gradually emerges for your course or degree.

We turn theory, into something to be acted upon by you as course or degree director. The outcomes and outputs of this workshop - a graphic design of the paradigm shifts in your course/degree - form the basis further conversations with your team. Importantly therefore, we subsequently continue the dialogue with you and align how you can make this practical for your actual course or degree, to take it further and move it forward.
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PROGRAMME FOR THE PARTICIPANTS

[A full day programme is possible as well]

Prior to the workshop, as a way to ‘flip the classroom’, participants receive an invitation and access to a Thinkpiece (2 pager).

A hands-on 2.5 hour exclusive and bespoke hands-on session for your curated group. It includes a 20 min. Keynote.

Follow up is with a professional visualisation of the outcomes/outputs by a graphic designer, coupled with an Audio Podcast (20 min) or Knowledge product (2-5 pager).
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PROGRAMME WITH YOU AS DIRECTOR

We follow the following set-up

Prior to delivery, we have an exploritory call / in person meeting to co-create a bespoke workshop for your team, and define what success looks like.

Post workshop, we touch base with you, and reflect remotely with you as coordinator, to evaluate impacts and possible spin-offs. We usually do this 1 season (3 months) after the workshop for the most authentic and genuine evaluation and way forward.
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IMPACT

The impact of one single workshop, may be limited or even risks to be almost neglectable. Reality proves that such a workshop for a teaching team, is more about orientation, getting a taste of something new – and they then going back home inspired, but already get consumed by the day to day responsibilities.

A real change in behaviuor through teacher professionalisation, takes time. At least 15-40 hours (Darling-Hammond et al., 2009 & Van Veen et al., 2010 [Dutch]).

This is why, first of all, our blended workshop typically has a strong training of trainers (TOT) component, because we believe that this is the most sustainable way to introduce a design angle to your team, maximising its impact over time.

Secondly, we offer you the opportunity to integrate the workshop ‘big ideas’ in an even more profound trajectory with you and your team. Have a look for example at our Design Studio.
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MEET THE TRAINERS AND THEIR EXPERTISE

Tikvah Breimer (MSc MAEd MSc) is an independent senior advisor, teacher trainer, and director of STUDIOBLENDED.

The graphic designer is part of the freelancer pool.
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THINK PIECE

Have a look at our Think piece (3 pages), to find out more about our unique methodology and philosophy for technical curriculum design, including big ideas.
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PRICE

€ 1250,- A tailor-made quotation is available after we identify the scope of work.

The full package, is counted excl VAT (21%), excl travel costs and excl material costs (printing posters). The package price includes the graphic designer.

There is a downpayment of € 750 euro.

We expect our clients on location to provide for:
- A suitable venue on campus [alternatively we can suggest an attractive venue outside]
- Flipchards and flipchart paper (number depending on group size)
- Markers, notes that can be attached to paper
- A projector and a screen
- Refreshments and - where applicable - lunch
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CONTACT

Feel free to email or call our director directly.
Tikvah Breimer (MSc MAEd MSc) tikvah@studioblended.com
+31 6 42 47 29 69

KEY PROJECTS

Have a look at our client portfolio to learn more. The workshop ‘big ideas’ is also part of our Design Studio, find out more here or go to our events page.

REFERENCES

Breimer, Tikvah (2026) Resilient education that stands the test of time - by design. Thinkpiece. Forthcoming.

Darling-Hammond, L., Hyler, M. E., Gardner, M. (2017) Effective Teacher Professional Development. Palo Alto, CA: Learning Policy Institute.

Eisner, E.W. (2001) From episteme to phronesis to artistry in the study and improvement of teaching. Teaching and Teacher Education, 18(4), 375-385. Available: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/223679443_From_Episteme_to_Phronesis_to_Artistry_in_the_Study_and_Improvement_of_Teaching (Accessed December 10, 2025)

Stenhouse, L. (1988) Artistry and teaching: The teacher as focus of research and development. Journal of Curriculum and Supervision, 4(1), 43-51. Available: https://scispace.com/pdf/artistry-and-teaching-the-teacher-as-focus-of-research-and-4ismljs3dn.pdf (Accessed December 10, 2025).

Veen, Van Klaas, Zwart, Rosanne, Meirink Jacobiene & Nico Verloop (2010). Professionele ontwikkeling van leraren, een reviewstudie naar effectieve kenmerken van professionaliseringsinterventies van leraren. ICLON / Expertisecentrum Leren van Docenten. Reviewstudie in opdracht van en gesubsidieerd door NWO-PROO. Available: https://www.nro.nl/sites/nro/files/migrate/PROO+Professionele+ontwikkeling+van+leraren+Klaas+van+Veen+ea.pdf (Accessed December 10, 2025).

Resilient education that stands the test of time - by design.