Solving Problems
A crucial life skill is problem-solving. We are all faced with problems throughout the course of our lives. And it is up to us how to solve them. Problems can vary. They can be simple. For example, what time should we wake up on a Sunday? They can also be complex. For example, how can we contribute to reducing climate change?
There are many ways to solve problems. And depending on the type of problem, different approaches can be followed to solve them. This is where design thinking comes in. I see design thinking as an antidote to the challenges and complexities of life.
In this post, I would like to explore the role of design thinking in education. How can design thinking be used by educators to develop 21st century skills?
What is Design Thinking?
Tim Brown, Executive Chair of world-renowned design and consulting firm IDEO, defines design thinking as “a human-centered approach to innovation that draws from the designer’s toolkit to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements for business success.”
Design thinking is a methodology used to positively transform the way in which we develop products, services, processes, and strategies. It involves five stages, starting from understanding the problem to testing the solution.
Stage 1: Empathize
In the first stage, we need to gain an empathetic understanding of the problem we are looking to solve. This is done by researching and gathering information about the problem and the people it affects. The purpose is to set aside any personal assumptions we may have and be unbiased in our approach to understanding the challenges and opportunities that may come with the problem.
Stage 2: Define
In the second stage, we analyze and synthesize the research we have done in the first stage and with this, define the problem. A good way to do this is to define it as a problem statement from which we can move on to the next stage.
Stage 3: Ideate
In the third stage, we have clearly understood the problem we are addressing, after having empathized and defined. With this understanding, we create possible solutions to the problem. Here, it is helpful to be creative and innovative, and think outside the box.
Stage 4: Prototype
In the fourth stage, we start to experiment. Once we have a list of different possible solutions, we can narrow down to the ones we want to move forward with. With our list, we prototype. This means to create basic, rudimentary, or scaled down versions of the solutions we have listed.
Stage 5: Test
In the fifth and final stage, we test. Once we have the prototypes, we can understand which ones effective and which ones are not by testing them out. Although this is the final stage, remember that design thinking is an iterative process. This means that we must be open to change, through further iterations and alterations, as necessary.
Design Thinking for Educators
Traditionally, design thinking is a process used by organizations to improve their different functions. But this iterative process is not only useful in the world of business. Insights of design thinking can be used in the classroom too. There are several key takeaways that educators could consider from design thinking to develop important 21st century skills in students.
Design thinking is a method in which one can define and solve challenging problems. And this process is one of the many purposes of education - to create individuals who can define and solve challenging problems.
Developing Skills Through Design Thinking
A common, and necessary theme in education around the world is that we are seeing a shift from content-based education to a more practical education. This hands-on education involves students being active and doing. And by having students do, they develop important skills of collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking, all through guided and scaffolded problem solving.
There is a wealth of material online to help educators effectively use design thinking in the classroom. I have used a few of these and personally, enjoy the Wallet Project a lot.
To get started, here are a few helpful resources:
Postscript:
Back in 2018 I had the pleasure of being a guest in a radio show hosted by Fundación Universitaria Los Libertadores where I spoke about design thinking and 21st century skills. For those interested, here is the link to the show. The part where I speak with the hosts starts around 33 minutes.