Thinking Like a Designer

A convergence of global socio-economic conditions has prepared the setting for our learners to be problem-solvers rather than just observers in the classroom. We all want our children to thrive but as always the path to get there is unclear. There are some pertinent questions which enter our minds as educators-how do we design our schools to accomplish skills required for the future, what is the culture that is required for this kind of learning to thrive and how do we ensure that this learning sticks? As the world continues to increasingly add complexity, our children need skills and mindsets to navigate the ever-changing scenarios. They need to be agile, they need to be perseverant, they need to be innovative among other things.

It has been observed that when we get learners to think like a designer to solve challenges, they look at them in a innovative way and their solutions are human centric. This is so because Design Thinking process starts with empathy for the end user and can't be counted as a solution till the user has given constructive feedback and the prototype has undergone numerous iterations post reflection.

Everyone has a role in developing a better world, a better future. And we need change-makers, who can navigate the unknown and complex future. Hence we need our learners to redefine problems, curate new ideas, possess astute decision-making skills and never stop learning.

Apart from the skills build-up, we also need definite mindsets to complement. Apart from being human-centred, collaborative, positive; the learners also need to be open to receive constructive feedback and go back to the design board to reflect and evolve their solution to a much higher level, suited to the needs of the users.

Our learners are already experimenting with activating their creativity. As you must have observed in your classrooms-when you provide your learners with the platform, they always rise to the occasion. They are ready, are you?