Inquiry is understanding a place as it is and was; design is envisioning and making change for the future of a place. Design Thinking in education supports teachers in broadening the process of traditional learning, by encouraging students’ creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Through Design Thinking, students work within the curriculum to solve problems and improve issues that impact their communities. The structure and process serve as a form of social technology, requiring students to engage “creative confidence,” empathy and critical thinking , and supporting them to organize their thinking and make decisions.
Key Topics
- Plan and design a Community Impact Project using Design Thinking
- Write your own SciFi after reading The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer or The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
- Explore your place through cultural, economic, and ecological lenses
- Create your own MakerSpace for school or home
- Practice rapid prototyping and ‘build to think
- Investigate citizens who see opportunity in the community’s problems
- Implement your ideas and solutions to improve your community
Interested in learning more about these model lessons or accessing in-depth teacher guides for key topics?
