Q1. What is Design Thinking?

Introduction

Design Thinking is a process for creating a solution to a problem. It’s similar to what you might do in a science class, math class or social studies class. Design thinking tends to work really well for creating solutions to problems that impact humans, like creating a new type of food that can be distributed to areas stricken with famine, a new type of transportation for people in big cities or a YouTube channel that inspires others to be their best self.

There are many models for the design thinking process and each one highlights different aspects of the design process. In this thing, you’ll be using design thinking to guide and track your progress to a solution to a real-world problem.

I Can Statements

• create a team with varying backgrounds and strengths
• select a process for documenting and sharing my progress through this Thing

Key Vocabulary

Define mode: This explicitly expresses the problem that one strives to address.

Design thinking: The process used to create something to solve a problem.

Empathize mode: The mode is to understand the values of others. 

Ideate mode: The mode in which one creates new concepts and ideas.

Prototype mode: The mode where one gets the ideas out of one's head and into the world. It is an example object which demonstrates the same features and qualities as the final product. 

Test mode: This is the chance to gather feedback, refine solutions, and continue to learn about one's users.

Play the Vocabulary Game to practice the Key Vocabulary. 

DIGITAL BREAKOUT ACTIVITY

We hope you enjoy this Breakout Learning Activity about Design Thinking.

Open the Breakout Room with this link.

If you need any help, or want to know about a Digital Breakout Activity please refer to the What is a Digital Breakout content box on the right-side menu.

Once you unlock it, you might want to take a screenshot of the Award for your portfolio, or check with your teacher.

Please be sure to tell us what you think of this Breakout Activity so that we can meet your needs. Teachers and Students please use this link for a very short survey about this breakout.

If you skipped the Digital Breakout Activity, watch Sprout’s video The Design Thinking Process (3:56) to get an overview of the things involved in a design thinking process.
 

You’ll notice that this video follows the Design Thinking Model created by Stanford d.School that looks like the image below. We’ll be using this model as our guide and add some important bits to it as we explore design thinking together. A design thinking process can help you solve some of the hardest problems or some of the silliest. It’s up to you!

Source: Stanford d.School’s Design Thinking Bootleg

Steps

1. Assemble your team. 

• Design Thinking works best with teams of two to four.
• Refer to your teacher for directions on how to assemble your team. If you are doing this independently, identify some friends or family members to do it with you.
• It’s best if you include teammates with different backgrounds and strengths because different perspectives shape a better solution.

2. Make a copy or download the Design Thinking Workbook.

3. Share your workbook. 

• Since this workbook will be shared by your team, you may choose to print it and write or draw on it or use it digitally in Google Docs, Microsoft Word, or another tool that you and your teacher agree upon. Be sure to save it and name it so you can locate it easily again.
• If you choose to print a copy, refer to your teacher for safekeeping. You may want to find a special place in the room to store your workbook or elect a teammate who will be responsible for bringing it each day.
• If you choose to go digital, share the document with each teammate and your teacher. Refer to your teacher for their sharing preference, they may want you to share it in your school's learning management system.

Completing this Quest

You have completed this Quest after completing the I Can Statements and steps above. After you’ve gathered your team, made a personal copy of the Design Thinking Workbook and shared it with your team and your teacher, you can move on to Quest 2.

 Check off this Quest on the 21t4s roadmap 

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