Design-Thinking in My Classroom

Implementing Design Thinking in the classroom can be transformative, but it requires thoughtful facilitation and an openness to new ways of teaching and learning.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” -Harriet Tubman

Just penning down a few thoughts from a decade of experience implementing Design Thinking in schools that educators should be keep in mind

1. Foster a Growth Mindset

• Encourage Experimentation: Emphasise that failure is a part of the learning process and that each attempt brings valuable insights.
• Celebrate Efforts: Acknowledge students' efforts and persistence, not just their successes.

2. Create a Safe and Inclusive Environment

• Encourage Open Dialogue: Create a classroom culture where every student feels safe to share ideas without fear of judgement.
• Build Empathy: Start with activities that build empathy among students, helping them understand each other's perspectives.

3. Be a Facilitator, Not a Director

• Guide the Process: Act as a coach who guides students through the Design Thinking steps, rather than giving direct instructions.
• Ask Open-Ended Questions: Use questions that encourage students to think deeply and explore various possibilities.

4. Use Real-World Problems

• Relevance: Choose problems that are relevant to students' lives and communities, making the learning process more engaging and meaningful.
• Contextual Learning: Connect the problem-solving activities to real-world contexts and challenges.

5. Encourage Collaboration

• Group Work: Facilitate group projects where students can collaborate, share diverse perspectives, and leverage each other's strengths.
• Role Assignment: Assign different roles within groups to ensure active participation from all students.

6. Scaffold the Learning Process

• Step-by-Step Guidance: Break down the Design Thinking process into manageable steps and provide support at each stage.
• Templates and Tools: Provide templates, frameworks, and tools that help students organise their thoughts and ideas.

7. Emphasise Empathy

• Empathy Exercises: Start with activities that help students practice empathy, such as interviews, surveys, and empathy maps.
• User-Centric Approach: Remind students to keep the end-user in mind throughout the process.

8. Promote Divergent Thinking

• Brainstorming Rules: Set rules for brainstorming sessions to encourage wild ideas and defer judgement.
• Creative Exercises: Use exercises like mind mapping, SCAMPER, and "What if?" scenarios to stimulate creative thinking.

9. Encourage Prototyping and Iteration

• Low-Fidelity Prototypes: Start with simple, low-cost prototypes to quickly test and refine ideas.
• Iterative Testing: Encourage students to test their prototypes, gather feedback, and iterate on their designs.

10. Reflect and Learn

• Reflection Sessions: After each stage, hold reflection sessions where students can discuss what they learned and how they can improve.
• Documentation: Have students document their process and reflections in journals or digital portfolios.

11. Integrate Technology

• Digital Tools: Utilise digital tools and platforms for collaboration, prototyping, and presentation.
• Online Resources: Leverage online resources and communities for additional inspiration and support.

12. Dopamine Rush

• Gamification: Incorporate elements of gamification, such as challenges, rewards, to make the process engaging.