Level 5: The Power of Applied Design Thinking
Connect & Engage
Participants will connect with other educators and examine the various ways that design thinking can impact teaching and learning across PK-12 settings. They’ll explore a range of practical strategies to better empathize with end users, prototype new experiences and test ideas in meaningful ways. Most importantly, participants will work face-to-face with those they are designing for to ensure an authentic design experience that can be replicated on return to their own schools.
Learn
Participants will learn to think as solution designers by using a toolkit of readily accessible strategies. All scenarios will be based around common design problems faced in schools in relation to pedagogy, curriculum, learning spaces, school operations and much more. Ultimately, participants will realize that nearly any challenge in connection with school can be addressed through a systematic approach to design and a solid bias for action.
Reflect & Apply
After immersing themselves in the process, participants will reflect back on their experiences in order to find ways that design thinking applies to their own school or classroom. They’ll then develop action plans to implement the design thinking process upon return to their schools where they will share these openly for feedback and iteration.
Outcomes
Participants will:
• understand how design thinking can be leveraged in a myriad of context in classrooms and across schools;
• develop strategies for garnering empathy and understanding users;
• experience designing, rapid prototyping and iterating using a variety of creative tools (digital and physical);
• learn a systematic approach to solving challenges using solution focused, human-centered approach; and
• form collaborative relationships with like-minded professionals.
