What Does Design Thinking Mean for My Child?”

"While there is a specific process that design thinking follows, perhaps its greatest impact on our students has not been in learning the methodology itself but in the establishment of a mindset that promotes an understanding of others."

                                                           Thomas Riddle, Assistant Director, Roper Mountain Science Center

Eric Harvie School has taken up the structure of design thinking to support, encourage and advance our students' learning each and every day. 'What is design thinking and what does this mean for my child' is the most common response I get when I share this information with parents, so I thought I would use this blog as an opportunity to explain a bit about what design thinking is, and some of the ways we are - and will be - using it to support our young learners.

Here is one model of design thinking - many exist - but all include similar stages.  One of the most appealing benefits of introducing students to the design thinking model is the 'discovery/building empathy' introductory element that grounds this problem solving strategy. Considering the perspective of others - and how a particular event, tool, encounter or strategy will impact them - encourages students to also consider their own needs as humans and as learners, and to appreciate the relationships and the environments in which we work and learn together. 

Empathy is a foundational component of peace education as well, and using design thinking multiplies opportunities for students to develop a mindset for learning that is grounded in empathy for each other, the world and themselves. It is the human-focus that ensures learning does not happen in the abstract but rather in the particular of human reality. For children, it means they become accustomed to using all their senses to notice what is happening around - and to - them, and to think analytically about how to best address issues.  This is a fundamental step in learning, to be aware and empathetic to the situation rather than just accept and follow directions unquestioningly. 

As an educator, this is the most valuable and powerful aspect of design thinking because it encourages students to take a positive, active role in their own learning, their own citizenship development and their own world.

As students define a problem, they learn to question the assumptions and actions that often are taken for granted. Asking questions like "Why? What if? How can things change?" develops the language of possibility and offers opportunities for innovation and seeing how things can be done differently. Trying new ideas and approaches generates feedback and opportunities to keep trying to see what can work better - this could be anything from trying a new approach to writing a story to developing a timeline to organizing an event to building a prototype of a wetland. Ideation, prototyping and testing yield multiple perspectives of experience as well as a great sense of accomplishment best achieved through collaborative interaction and exchange. Trying something, learning together. Reflecting, testing, sharing, trying again.  These are the actions of authentic learning regardless of the discipline or subject area or age of the student. 

Most importantly, design thinking ensures students are active, engaged participants in their learning. As they investigate and explore their environments both inside and outside of school, they learn to question assumptions, try new strategies, collaborate, investigate and reflect on their actions as they make decisions about the next best steps for their own learning. Connect student initiative and interest with teacher guidance and active instruction and design thinking provides a rich tapestry of learning experiences that fosters high levels of student achievement.

And that is what design thinking means for each and every student at Eric Harvie School :)

Lorraine Kinsman,

Principal