DESIGN THINKING

Aprilita Calpahi
Kathleen Joy Ayaman
Jasmine Pugong
Fely Jane Galwan
Shuhui Dinamling

Design thinking has various applications in education and learning. It can be used to nurture
critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills in students, making them curious and
invested in society. Design thinking methodology is effective for teaching and learning in design
disciplines and as a problem-solving framework in business education.

Application of design thinking in any aspects of education are the following:

1. In the educational technology, design thinking can be used to design and develop
educational technology solutions that are more user-friendly and effective. By using design thinking
methodologies, developers can create educational technology solutions that meet the needs of their users
and improve the learning experience.
EXAMPLE
Development of a mobile application that helps students to improve their writing skills. Through
this, students will not be hard up in their writing. This 21st century most of the students already owns a
cellphone so it is easy for them to access information about improving their writing skills.

2. In k-12 education, design thinking integrated to cultivate 21st century competencies, with a focus on
STEM- related curriculum domains and core concepts such as prototyping, ideation, and evaluation. This
also create project-based learning activities that encourage students to explore real-world problems and
develop creative solutions.
It has been applied beyond the original sphere of design work to business, engineering,
technology, and more recently, education, because of its ability of advancing creativity and innovation by
applying an empathetic, flexible and iterative approach. With the quest for a teaching strategy for 21st
century skills, work habits and character traits, there has been, in the past five years, keen and wide
interest towards Design Thinking as applied in education
It can also be used to encourage creativity and problem-solving skills in students. Teachers can
use design thinking methodologies to create engaging lesson plans that are tailored to the needs and
interests of their students.

If we go back through history, teaching creativity, artistry and innovation is not something new as there
have been efforts in the last 100 years to integrate and teach creativity in mainstream education
Dr. Rudolph Steiner (1861-1925), the father of anthroposophy, established the Steiner Schools with the
aim to educate the whole child. Steiner schools, according to Kirkham & Kidd (2015) focuses more on
the artistic-imaginative, dramatic and creative with the aim of promoting an intrinsic desire to learn
through the stimulation of feelings and senses. The pedagogy of Steiner education emphasizes the role
of imagination in learning, striving to integrate in a holistic way the intellectual, practical and creative
development of pupils. The overarching goal is to develop free, morally responsible and integrated
individuals who are socially competent.
Furthermore, in leading the global initiative in the Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) focusing their
efforts on the national college and career preparation conversation. P21 has played an active and
crucial role in guiding education policy by building an alliance of future-thinking individuals to provide the
framework of the 21st Century Skills. Now becoming a global movement, its model is now widely
recognized for integrating 21st century skills into the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science,
Geography, Social Studies, Language and the Arts (Mishra & Kurelic, 2011). Proponents of this
movement asserted that education should be more responsive to the changes brought about by
globalization and technology providing for services that can prepare the students to make relevant and
sustained contributions to the future society (De Campos, 2014).
According to Tan (2014) wrote that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has acknowledged that
the industry partners are looking for graduates who have acquired skills in problem-solving, leadership
and creativity. The prospects for a stronger creativity training in our schools are however dim due to
cultural conformity and blind obedience. This is then a challenge to both the industry and the academe to
push for an education agenda that espouses creativity.
EXAMPLE:
A project where students are tasked with redesigning their school's canteen to promote healthier
eating habits. They would start by empathizing with their peers to understand their needs and
preferences, then define the problem, ideate potential solutions, prototype designs, and finally, test and
iterate their ideas based on feedback. This process not only fosters critical thinking and problem-solving
skills but also empowers students to make a positive impact in their school community.

3. In Curriculum Development design thinking can be used to develop new curricula that are more
relevant and engaging for students. By using design thinking methodologies, educators can develop
curricula that are tailored to the needs and interests of their students and address real-world problems.
Design thinking is also applied in module and curricular design, involving stakeholders like
teachers and students to enhance educational experience.
EXAMPLE:
Design thinking revolutionizes educational experiences by putting students at the center of the curriculum
design. Through empathy, collaboration and iteration, educators craft engaging modules tailored to
student’s interests and needs. From storytelling in language arts to hands-on STEM projects, design
thinking fosters creativity and relevance, ensuring that learning is meaningful and impactful. By embracing
design thinking, educators empower students to thrive in a dynamic world, equipped with the skills and
knowledge needed to succeed.

4. In higher education, design thinking can be used to improve the quality of learning and teaching by
developing innovative instructional techniques and course materials. It can also be used to improve the
student experience by designing user-friendly systems for registration, enrollment, and academic support
services.

The four application of design thinking in different educational setting are design thinking in educational
technology, K-12 education, curriculum development and in higher education that helps you understand
how design thinking works and helps you integrate design thinking into your own strategy and workflows.
Whether you are a designer, entrepreneur, teacher and student.