Design Thinking
What is design thinking? The simple answer is, “Design thinking is a formal method for practical, creative resolution of problems and creation of solutions, with the intent of an improved future result.” (from Wikipedia)
However, it is really so much more. Design thinking starts with empathy – gaining a strong understanding of what the user needs; not what the designer thinks he/she needs! The image below from Stanford’s d.School shows the framework for design thinking.
I hope the following resources will help in understanding and implementing design thinking in your classroom.
- Launch into Design Thinking – website for the book, Launch: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring out the Maker in Every Student, by John Spencer and A.J. Juliani
- Launch into Design Thinking video
- The Beginner’s Guide to Design Thinking in the Classroom by A.J. Juliani
- Use Design Thinking to Develop the 7 Mindsets of the Mentally Wealthy by Sabba Quidwai
- dschool: Institute of Design at Stanford
- Behind the Sticky Notes: Design Thinking by Grace Chao; published in The Stanford Daily
- Upcycling and the Low Tech Makerspace by Mark Schreiber
- How to Apply Design Thinking in Class, Step by Step by Mindshift
- Design Thinking in the Elementary Classroom: The Power of Empathy by Beth Holland
- Design Thinking and Project Based Learning to Scaffold Innovation by Beth Holland
- Design Thinking in Education: Empathy, Challenge, Discovery, and Sharing by Susie Wise (leads the @K12lab at Stanford’s d.School)
- Creative Confidence – book by David and Tom Kelley
- Design Thinking for Educators – include free educators toolkit
- What Innovation Looks Like in an Elementary School by AJ Juliani