Empathy Map Guide Questions for SIP for Students
👤 USER: Who is your target user?
Examples: A tricycle driver, a Grade 5 student in a public school, a fisherfolk, a
barangay health worker, an SPED teacher
🧠 THINK & FEEL
What truly matters to the user? What are their thoughts, worries, dreams, or
motivations?
What keeps this person up at night?
What are they constantly thinking about, even if they don’t say it out loud?
What worries them the most in their daily routine?
What makes them feel proud or fulfilled?
What do they value in their environment or community?
👀 SEE
What does the user see in their environment? What surrounds them?
What do they see happening in their home, school, or workplace?
What tools, resources, or materials do they interact with regularly?
What problems or conditions do they observe daily?
What are other people around them doing?
What trends or challenges are visible in their barangay or neighborhood?
SAY & DO
What does the user say out loud? What actions do they take?
What do they talk about with others (friends, co-workers, neighbors)?
What advice do they give or receive?
What actions do they repeat daily or weekly?
What solutions have they tried already?
Are they vocal about the problem or quietly enduring it?
👂 HEAR
What influences the user? What do they hear from others?
What do their peers, community leaders, or teachers tell them?
What kind of feedback, criticism, or encouragement do they receive?
What messages do they hear from social media, barangay meetings, or the
news?
Who influences their decisions—family, local authorities, employers?
⚠️PAIN
What are the user’s frustrations, obstacles, and fears?
What specific problems or difficulties do they face?
What causes them stress or inconvenience?
What needs are not being met?
What prevents them from reaching their goals?
What negative outcomes have they experienced before?
✅ GAIN
What would success, relief, or a “better life” look like for them?
What do they hope will improve or change?
What would make their life easier, safer, or more efficient?
What tools or knowledge would they be excited to have?
What does a good day look like for them?
What would make them feel supported or empowered?
Brainstorm Grid / Post-it Storming
🎯 Goal: To generate a wide range of possible solutions or investigatory project ideas
based on the defined user problem.
🧰 Materials Needed:
Manila paper or whiteboard
Post-it notes (or paper cut into squares)
Markers or pens
📝 Instructions
1. Restate the Problem (1 minute)
On your board or manila paper, write your problem statement clearly at the top.
Example: “Farmers in Barangay Maligaya need a way to preserve crops longer
because spoilage increases during hot months.”
2. Set the Ground Rules (1 minute)
Share these rules with your group:
Defer judgment – No idea is too “weird” right now.
Encourage quantity – The more ideas, the better.
Go wild – Even unrealistic ideas can spark realistic ones.
Build on others’ ideas – Use “Yes, and…” instead of “But…”
3. Write One Idea Per Post-it (5–7 minutes)
Each group member writes as many ideas as possible. One idea per Post-it note.
Examples:
Test banana leaves as natural food wrapping.
Use solar dehydration boxes to dry vegetables.
Design a cooling basket using clay and water.
Encourage everyone to aim for 5–10 ideas each.
4. Organize Using a Brainstorming Grid (3–5 minutes)
After collecting the Post-its, organize them.
Simple & Low-Tech High-Tech or Digital
Ex: Banana leaf wrap Ex: App that tracks
freshness
Nature-Based / Eco- Crazy / Unconventional
Friendly
Ex: Charcoal coolers Ex: Drone-delivered food
nets
5. Discuss and Prioritize (2–3 minutes)
As a group, choose 1–2 promising ideas based on:
Feasibility
Originality
Relevance to science (Can it be tested/measured?)
Impact on the user
✅ Facilitator Tips:
Walk around and ask guiding questions:
o “How might we test this?”
o “What makes this idea stand out?”
o “Could students actually do this with school resources?”
Prototype Stage Instructions
Step 1: Choose Your Prototype Format
Pick how you will represent your solution idea: sketch, model, storyboard, flowchart, or
poster.
Step 2: Build It
Don’t worry about making it perfect or pretty. Focus on communicating the
idea.
Prompt Questions:
What does it look like?
How does it work?
What is it made of?
Who uses it and when?
What part of your research process does it represent?
Step 3: Add Labels and Explanation
Write notes around your prototype or diagram:
What part of the research does this represent?
What are your independent and dependent variables (if applicable)?
What will be measured, observed, or tested?
Step 4: Prepare to Share
Get ready for a 2-minute “mini-pitch”:
What problem are you solving?
What is your idea?
How might you investigate or test it scientifically?
🎤 Facilitator Tips for the Prototype Stage
Encourage low-fidelity and imperfect output—emphasize function over form.
Ask probing questions like:
o “If this were tested, what would your variables be?”
o “What part of this is experimental, and what part is a design feature?”
o “How could you simplify this for student access and budget?”
