Design Thinking

Professional growth experiences should be designed to amplify collaboration and active exploration.

On a mission to reimagine traditional schooling, a K–8 school in San Diego puts teachers and students at the center.

Educators take on the role of guides and motivate students to direct their own learning.

A project centered around stuffed animals can help young learners become keen observers, think critically, and make decisions that support diversity.

Using design thinking and no more equipment than a smartphone, students can begin to explore their world through film.

Students learn to empathize with others around the globe while solving real-world problems.

While empathy is the first step in the design thinking process, keep your students focused on this necessary element as they move through definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing.

A well-designed STEM activity helps elementary students understand the basics of physics and design thinking.

A school district uses monthly missions in its design studios to increase student and teacher engagement and foster self-directed learning.

A school in India founded on design thinking principles encourages students to be active agents in their own learning.

English language arts teachers can borrow design thinking from STEM classes to support a deep understanding of literary characters.

All points of arts integration -- from benefits and implementation to linking the arts with core curriculum -- are covered in this roundup of useful Edutopia blog posts, articles, and videos.

As a model for reframing methods and outcomes, design thinking reconnects educators to their creativity and aspirations for helping students develop as deep thinkers and doers.

 

To maximize learning potential, classrooms should be open, comfortable, well lit, and visually stimulating. Strategic use of existing space can make a big difference, too.