Model United Nations (MUN) has really taken quite a significant role in my life over the last few years.
I have participated in over 24 MUN conferences so far in multiple capacities - as a delegate, chair,
and secretariat team member. Participating in the MUN events (right from my first MUN to that of
even the latest), have been the most difficult, yet motivating, thrilling, lively experiences in my life.
One key observation from my MUN experience is that it can be quite challenging for newcomers to
get started. My first experience participating in MUNs remains vivid. I believed I knew, considered
and prepared for every possibility and yet I still found myself in awe. I did not know how to properly
organize a presentation, I did not know when and how to raise Point of Information (POI’s), and I did
not know how to behave when a person challenged me. This completely changed after participating in several MUNs, tons of feedback and observations of more experienced delegates who finally made me feel good about myself. I still remember those early jitters, especially when I see new students stepping into their first MUNs today. Therefore, based on my personal experiences, internal challenges, and my journey of overcoming the fear of MUN, I created my innovation , ‘THE FIRST GAVEL.’
In real life, The First Gavel is an interactive learning system that helps beginners learn how to do Model United Nations step by step. Users start by looking at a well-organized digital guide that breaks down important parts of MUN, like opening speeches, Points of Information (POIs), and rebuttals, into easy-to-understand sections.
The innovation is especially useful during testing and real use, when students used the guide to get ready. Users start by opening a structured digital guide that breaks down important parts of MUN, like opening speeches, Points of Information (POIs), and rebuttals, into easy-to-understand sections.
Users can actively use what they learn by using an interactive website with tools like a speech builder and practice quizzes. This is in addition to the guide. For instance, a beginner can use prompts to write their own speech, take quizzes to see how well they understand it, and then practice debating by role-playing.
The First Gavel has mostly spread through direct contact with peers and exposure in schools. The project was shown to a lot of people, including students, teachers, and visitors, at the MYP Personal Project Exhibition. More than 500 people recognized it, and more than 100 people gave feedback. This gave a lot of beginners a chance to talk to the guide and see how it worked in real life.
Along with the exhibit, the guide and website were shared with other MUN delegates, especially those who were just starting out. They used the site to practice their speeches and learn more about how to debate. Word-of-mouth spread it within the school MUN community as well, as students told other students who were getting ready for conferences about it.
Also, the fact that the project is digital makes it easy to access and grow. You can share the website with others by sending them links or QR codes, which means that more people can use it after the first group of testers. Future updates will add more features and videos, with the goal of reaching more people over time and making it easier for more people to use.
The First Gavel was changed over and over again during the development process based on feedback, testing, and thought. At first, the guide had a lot of text and mostly explained ideas. But after getting feedback from beginners right away, I realized that users found big sections too much to handle and hard to use in real life. So, I broke the content down into shorter, clearer parts with step-by-step instructions and added real-life examples to make the strategies more useful.
Adding interactive features to the website was another big change. Based on what users said, I added tools like a speech builder and practice quizzes that let users interact with the content instead of just reading it. This made learning much easier to understand and more interesting. At first, the guide had a lot of text and was mostly about explaining ideas. But after getting feedback from beginners early on, I learned that users found big parts too much to handle and hard to use in real life. So, I broke the content up into shorter, clearer sections with step-by-step instructions and added real-life examples to make the strategies easier to use.
I also made MUN terms easier to understand and added more examples after users said they were having trouble with advanced ideas. To make it easier for people to use and have a better experience, the visual design was also improved with cleaner layouts and better organization.
Start by choosing a topic or committee you want to practice for. Go through the relevant section in the guide and read the key strategies, such as speech structure, POI handling, and rebuttal techniques.
Then, use the interactive tools on the website. Try building a short opening speech using the speech builder, and test your understanding with the quizzes provided.
Finally, apply what you’ve learned by practicing out loud or simulating a short debate. You can also repeat sections as needed until you feel confident. The goal is not just to read the content, but to actively use it in practice.
