Please join us for a weekly conversation about design thinking in K12 education. We will have a variety of moderators with a wide range and depth of design thinking experiences. Each week, we will connect the dots to the design thinking methodology and how it can and will play a bigger role in today’s K12 educational arena.
Tonight’s #dtk12chat Power Hour topic is around #designthinking 101 Qs, topics, & Experiences SO please prep a Q or 2 a get ready to rip! Typical Q1/A1, Q2/A2 format. Im your Mod @scitechyedu manning the PH!
Just in time for #dtk12chat wonderful community of #designthinking educators from around the globe. Ws 6pmPT 4 official chat & 24/7 convo. Hop on over!
Please take a moment to intro yourself Fist to 5 (0-5) in your comfortability of all things #designthinking, where ya from, & how is back to school treating you! #dtk12chat
Thought I might be able to hop on from the mountains, but connection is lacking. Hello to my #dtk12chat family! Should be great chat w/@scitechyEDU as mod. Have fun!!
Trying to design a graphic for designing connected learning experiences. As a teacher, I want to create the conditions for learning to thrive. I’m trying to simplify how I might do this. Would love thoughts? #dtk12chat#k12Artchat#ohedchat
Mary… I sometime range b/t a 3 & 4 depending on the arena, moment, in the process, & design topic
I’m from ATL & currently a SAHM who pickup projects as needed/wanted (Thankful) #dtk12chat
It does appear to be a state of mind. AS a newbie in DT, I find myself doing more and more of that too. It changes how you approach the world #dtk12chat
It wld be interesting 2 see how we all gauge our 0,1,2,3,4, & 5 I feel I have so much more to learn and experience… that’s why I give myself 3-4… Now if I was to ask more directly Comfort Teaching/Facilitating or Doing #designthinking my #s are a little difference #dtk12chat
Gary from near Philadelphia, PA. Glad to join in. I'll be hit and miss for a good portion...working on populating some google classroom folders. #dtk12chat
yes, and… if you are a teacher I hope you are doing #designthinking every day #dtk12chat How could you not if you work w/ and alongside students aka People every day
on vacation last weekend, I caught by myself analyzing and thinking more about how to improve things and how we consider the human condition #dtk12chat
It does appear to be a state of mind. AS a newbie in DT, I find myself doing more and more of that too. It changes how you approach the world #dtk12chat
I say I'm a 4-fingered DTer. Always something to learn, and I've not had much chance to roll out big DT projects in a couple of years. Back to school is just fine. Gradeless...year two #dtk12chat#tg2chat
A1 I am a new DT teacher this year. I have done some dabbling in the past in middle school and understand the process. Just finished up a few small DT with my current high school S so we are getting better at the process #dtk12chat
@scitechyEDU 3 to me means I've tried it with my 6th graders and love seeing students go through the different phases. Favorite is creating opportunities for gaining empathy! #dtk12chat#dmusd
A1: 3- still wrapping brain around how to fit DT projects into the limitations of my schedule. Right now it's either 5 days and done for a 3 months or once a week for 3-5 weeks; neither seems ideal #dtk12chat
Are you self-contained 6th gr or a subject area teacher? What did you have kids do; who did they gain empathy from? Sorry so many ?? looking for ideas! #dtk12chat
You better…. I give myself a 5 after staying at a Holiday Inn and working with 0-18 year olds (adults are a whole other bag of stuff to deal with) #dtk12chat
I still think 3 for application and understanding since having lived through it once myself as teacher and learner. Once doesn't seem like enough to have a greater grasp; closer to 4+ for some of the mindsets and exp around process from sci/engineering design work #dtk12chat
A1: solid 4, (with great humility) I feel like I have been DT-ing for a very long time and was propelled forward in growth when I was introduced to the common DT language we use today #dtk12chat
@GHSTEAMchic@scitechyEDU Self-contained 6th. Did a DT project on tiny homes. We researched & brought in experts from disaster relief, mental illness, sustainability, etc for interviews. #dtk12chat#dmusd
Q2 Common Language of #designthinking What are they (must haves 4 newbies)? What words do you find yourself using w/o connecting it to a DT Challenge? Have you embedded this language into the learning culture of your classroom? How so? #dtk12chat
I’ve been doing DT for seven years and still have so much to learn, especially when you gotta dig into the empathy work, synthesize it and come up with a good working POV (point of view) #solvetherightproblem#dtk12chat#trusttheprocess
A2: I use "empathy" in my daily language along with "prototype." The concept of getting feedback on ideas I just used right before this chat! #dtk12chat
A2 I think need and empathy stand out. I'm out of the class and actually out of the school site now, so I really try to find needs and empathize with the end users that I am trying to help #dtk12chat
Q2 Common Language of #designthinking What are they (must haves 4 newbies)? What words do you find yourself using w/o connecting it to a DT Challenge? Have you embedded this language into the learning culture of your classroom? How so? #dtk12chat
A2 Having only taught it for about 3 weeks, we have introduced the stages. I have found empathy to be something that my S struggle to define and understand. We have focused on this a lot. They found ideate to be a new world but can readily define now. #dtk12chat
@GHSTEAMchic@scitechyEDU They did tiny home prototypes for their specific audience - homeless, veterans, elderly, etc. Their research and in person interviews helped them build care and concern for their interest group. #dtk12chat
So great that you're starting to get them to empathize and think about others. A skill needed in the world, and a skill that will help them be successful - something not to skip or underestimate! #dtk12chat
A2 I dunno about common language, but common skill sets include an ability to separate self from ideas, comfort with ambiguity, abductive reasoning, an ability to synthesize, self knowledge of one's worldview, and the ability to empathize #dtk12chat
A2. I use the words/phrases empathy, human-centred, embracing ambiguity, ideate, prototype, testing assumptions, and iterate in my daily language. We use these words often in my classroom. #dtk12chat
Q3 What are some #designthinking challenges you have taught w/ your students? Where & How did you get people to empathize with? #dtk12chat We want DEETS people! The image are #DEEPdt challenges I played a role in.
A2 Prototype, iteration, beginner’s mindset, flex, lap, low-res, High-Res, empathize, unpack, Focus & Flare, Reset, Reflect, What Makes You Say That, Tell Me More…, Pause, redesign, feedback, (I could go on and on) #dtk12chat
Common language=creation of "Community of discourse." For me those words R empathy, iteration, prototype, testing. W/o DT I still use Prototype, Empathy: Former because all work is a prototype, and latter b/c it keeps the focus of student work on relevant projects. #dtk12chat
Honestly so many at this point in last ten years! Everything from local social justice issues like racism/sexism to re-designing cafeteria process to limit spread of flu to having real non-profit clients, designing/programming apps to global focused projects #dtk12chat
A3: How might you redesign our learning space for your partner (day 1 of school). How might we redesign recess? (1st grade) How might we redesign the Revolutionary War (looked at the war as a "solution" and then worked backwards) #dtk12chat
A3 As a newbie, we are only beginning with small DT but we had students work in groups to identify T-shirt designs from their partners and create them. It was a small step for us but it taught S the DT process and they better understand it #dtk12chat Eager to hear others ideas
A3. Last year: "HMW create a classroom where everyone belongs?" (we were our own users) & "HMW create the Canada we can imagine in the next 150 years?" (we did expert interviews & used them as users) #dtk12chat
Love this list… I have a list of some of the skills I know students work w/ #designthinking Tell me more what “I dunno about common language.” What does that mean? #dtk12chat
@scitechyEDU A2 Student interests, empathy (SEL), prototype, iterate (writing assignments), & feedback. It's everyday language in our classroom culture that we start with by identifying community values and then work from there attaching the language through the day. #dtk12chat
A3: 5th gr designed a new outdoor space; each team of 4 5th graders interviewed a different grade level team of teachers during their prep hour; then had big share out and need finding/ POV work #dtk12chat
A3. With my grad students, we did "HMW create a local action for a global problem?" They did 1st person research (observation & interview) in the community and went back to test their prototypes. #dtk12chat
A2 Prototype, iteration, beginner’s mindset, flex, lap, low-res, High-Res, empathize, unpack, Focus & Flare, Reset, Reflect, What Makes You Say That, Tell Me More…, Pause, redesign, feedback, (I could go on and on) #dtk12chat
A3: classroom space for sure, HMW share playspace?, HMW share S work and get feedback, homeless/houseless challenge, social activism, airport gate experience, Providing services for upper schoolers #dtk12chat
It means I don't know if common language is even a thing yet, different design houses have their own language. It is such a nascent field that there isn't agreement upon how it should be described
@scibri@scitechyEDU One thing we did was to create service opportunities in the community to develop empathy - making posters for local hosp, collecting food for Ronald McDonald House, etc. They truly connected with the act of serving others with real world exper. #dtk12chat
A2 Prototype, iteration, beginner’s mindset, flex, lap, low-res, High-Res, empathize, unpack, Focus & Flare, Reset, Reflect, What Makes You Say That, Tell Me More…, Pause, redesign, feedback, (I could go on and on) #dtk12chat
Gr8 Q. I think we’re seeing interviews about ppl’s likes,etc being called #DT kind of like #DTlite.Doesn’t really solve a prob,variations on same project based on userinput. Different than dig in,understand need,developing an insight (observe & immerse underused imho) #dtk12chat
I agree, and much can, but I think of it along the lines of focusing on the humans when too often we focus on the problem, technology, shiny item in front of us ... #dtk12chat
Love that idea. We have students working on their 1st major challenge right now about sports/athletics. One group is focusing on gender equality which is really interesting. Can't wait to see how it turns out #dtk12chat
Q4 Are there areas of the #designthinking process that seem foggy or unclear? If you had to “phone a friend” what questions would you want them to answer? #dtk12chat
It was REALLY cool! We actually started at the end of the DT process and studied the causes of the war with the DT lens. It led backwards to them defining the needs statement for what the colonists were trying to solve. Great deep discussions! #dtk12chat
This reminds me of all the little short DT challenges we do based on a book or poem, to learn a science concept, etc. We do these to build the DT muscles. Not all projects are months long! =) #dtk12chat
Gr8 Q. I think we’re seeing interviews about ppl’s likes,etc being called #DT kind of like #DTlite.Doesn’t really solve a prob,variations on same project based on userinput. Different than dig in,understand need,developing an insight (observe & immerse underused imho) #dtk12chat
A4 to me, the prototype phase is interesting as I think of it as something physically created but I am seeing other ideas or actions being included here. Am I on the right track with this? #dtk12chat
A4. One thing I don't have a lot of "go to protocols" (other than https://t.co/OBczUgmsrZ) for is narrowing after diverging. How do you support Ss in narrowing to one promising solution to test? #dtk12chat
A4 all of DT is foggy and unclear. The field is about exploring the unknown. All we have is our own ability to make sense of situations in eveidence supported ways as we move forward towards managing complex problems #dtk12chat
still reframing because I'm not sure where the Ss are going to take it and get the most traction. As we go back to our users more through continued ethnography, the HMW becomes more clear #dtk12chat
unfortunately Time is the enemy of #designthinking To truly & deeply empathize with a person time must be spent, observing, engaging, & immersing yourself into their space & experiences… Most Ts have time for a class period if that much and stay on the surface… #dtk12chat
A3: My favorite challenge was our 6th graders working with local non-profits to solve issues. They chose the np, served on location for 2 days, and interviewed employees. Ultimately presented to the non-profits. #dtk12chat
Yes! Services, processes, AND products can be prototyped! One thing I've recently learned about prototyping that makes a lot of sense is that you should prototype to test an assumption. Which assumption, if false, would cause your project to fail? #dtk12chat
Wish I could "like" this post more than once! Time is ALWAYS a challenge for me. And sometimes a short timeline helps me and my students focus in better. #dtk12chat
unfortunately Time is the enemy of #designthinking To truly & deeply empathize with a person time must be spent, observing, engaging, & immersing yourself into their space & experiences… Most Ts have time for a class period if that much and stay on the surface… #dtk12chat
3rd graders were inspired through an economics study to find a population to serve and landed on the upperschoolers. we spent several days hangin out and observing to uncover goods and services to provide #dtk12chat
Agree - had a writing process educator use it years ago as a strategy to open eyes to see beyond the narrow focus or filter that we usually use #dtk12chat
Very true, & I think there are ways to build this in throughout teaching/learning as regular practice and modeling. Unfortunately, often I don’t think Ts are given the time, training &/or support 2 even learn the deeper parts of #designthinking themselves. #dtk12chat
Providing space for others to be truly heard requires one to listen to the speaker and oneself simultaneously. It means "hearing" one's visceral responses to what is being said and separating them from the speaker's intent to truly hear the speaker's words #HipHopEd
A3 #dtk12chat S generated challenges bsd on probs. found in their communities: https://t.co/33lNC0Da7p
HMW learn the stories of Bo Radley? (To Kill a Mockingbird) HMW design an experience for our MS Poetry Cafe attendees.
some fails: backpack baby-sitting, charging stations, healthy snacks. Wins: not-so-healthy snacks (a lot of them). We "borrowed" money from school and repaid it w/interest. we took Ss to store to make purchases and returns #manyTripstoWalmart#dtk12chat
A4: the initial step & empathy step to me w/K-5 is a bit of chicken/egg question... Do I give them a problem I notice or want them to work on vs Ss authentically finding problems they can identify #dtk12chat
Yes! Agreed. This is why #DesignThinking & social-emotional learning go hand & hand. In order to help us understand others, we need to more deeply understand ourselves & become more self aware. Wonderful learning opps 4 ourselves & Ss #dtk12chat
the backbone of this one is ethnography and empathy. I am trying to build muscles deferring judgement, observation, and maker skills. trying to "make to help others" #dtk12chat
I want to do more. Trying to figure out how to make it happen. The learning was so powerful. Some even still volunteer at the places they designed for! #dtk12chat
Ain't no more truthful truth than "It's all about relationships." That starts with understanding the self. (Too many of us don't...some never will.) #dtk12chat
right? they saw a bunch of backpacks laying around and thought "maybe someone should be watching those; only they found out that the "crime" rate was very low so the and to iterate again #dtk12chat
Yes! Was just thinking of having 5th gr work on DT project w/creating a new system for cleaning up recess equipment; no physical model, but rather process #dtk12chat
right? they saw a bunch of backpacks laying around and thought "maybe someone should be watching those; only they found out that the "crime" rate was very low so the and to iterate again #dtk12chat
Depending on your purpose, both! For the latter, a carefully planned provocation (field experience, if possible, but videos, books, & articles work well too) and then get the Ss to brainstorm everything they noticed. The problems you hoped they'd see will get noticed. #dtk12chat
yes, reminds me of the work I do w/SS to set up inquiry; carefully providing initial observation usually leads to the ? I was hoping for in terms of science content #dtk12chat
They are everywhere. and each experience is an interdisciplinary gold mine. HMW guide Ss through rich "real world" experiences and connect the content areas along the way? #dtk12chat
Exactly. If you have the right initial experience (paired with empathy protocols), you can bet they'll find something interesting to dig into! #dtk12chat
