03 - The Role of Design Thinking in Enhancing Problem-Solving Skills Among High School Students

The problem with #designthinking is it's simplicity.

Come to think of it, how hard can it be? Depending on which model you follow (10 models??? ) each step in itself isn't that hard.

• Understand the problem (ask questions)
• Analyse the problem (define it)
• Solve the problem (brainstorm ideas)
• Visualise the solution (prototype/build..)
• Does it work? (Test it)

Really... that easy?

Ask any practicing design-thinker, and the stories they will tell. I've been practicing, applying, facilitating and (still) learning #designthinking for a good 10+ years. Yes, still learning.

Some once told me, #designthinking is a lot like skiing. Easy to learn, difficult to master (thinking about when I learnt how to ski.... I have a slightly different take on the "easy to learn").

So, what does ANY of this have to do with high school students?

The World Economic Forum - Future of Jobs 2023 report lists the following Top 10 in-demand skills.

1. Analytical Thinking
2. Creative Thinking
3. Resilience, flexibility & agility
4. Motivation & self-awareness
5. Curiosity & Life long learning
6. Tech Literacy
7. Dependability & attention to detail
8. Empathy & active listening
9. Leadership & Social Influence
10. Quality Control

Most well resourced schools (and we work with a number of them across the spectrum) are either already working on these, or have well established programs that deliver on and measure across these metrics.

The reason #designthinking makes a compelling case is its ability to check off almost all of the 10 points in this list. Talk about a whole system approach to learning.

Earlier on, I did state that the problem with Design Thinking is its simplicity. I'd argue that whats empowering about it is it's flexibility and fluidity by which it can be applied.

When we work with students from Years 7 -11, we know the same topic can (is) scaled up/down based on the age, size, demographic and a host of other criteria. We have run countless #designthinking workshops for schools. We know it works.

So, if you are a new high school educator/teacher dipping your toes into the #designthinking wave pool, or an experienced surfer riding that wave, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Pick a model (dschool, IDEO, Cambridge, Double Diamond...). Any model. Doesn't matter.
• You don't always have to go all the way. Feel free to take specific bits of the process and use it (just the brainstorming, or perhaps a combination of empathy and ideation).
• Think of it as a process comprising of building blocks, and just like Lego, there are many different ways to re-arrange them.
• Once you get comfortable with applying the process in one subject area (e.g. destech), then apply the same in a completely different area... history/biology/psychology... you will be surprised!
• Be clear about what are you trying to achieve. More often its not a new product design. It might just be to teach the students brainstorming, or understanding people...
• Finally, as is the classic design thinking, test, apply, observe, modify, test.

A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week” — George Patton

I'm always up for a good chat about #designthinking or #problemsolving in schools. Feel free to reach out.

In the meantime, get out there and get #designthinking