"Design Thinking in Classrooms: Cultivating Innovation and Problem-Solving Skills"
Keerthana V
Assistant professor_Department of Commerce| Educating students|"A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning."
Design thinking is revolutionizing classrooms by fostering a culture of creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork. By engaging in a process of empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing, students learn to approach challenges with an innovative mindset. This methodology encourages students to tackle complex problems, whether designing solutions for environmental issues, brainstorming ways to improve school systems, or creating community-based projects.
In practice, design thinking enhances traditional learning by making it hands-on and student-centered. It shifts the teacher’s role from instructor to facilitator, guiding students as they develop solutions, iterate ideas, and learn through trial and error. For example, students might work together to design sustainable products, and through prototyping, they refine their concepts and learn the value of adaptability.
By cultivating empathy, collaboration, and resilience, design thinking prepares students with skills crucial for today’s world. This approach not only makes learning more engaging but also transforms classrooms into spaces where students are encouraged to think creatively and solve real-world problems.