Dig Deeper with

Design Thinking

A presentation deck for training educators on the Project MASH design thinking processHalf-day version

Quick Challenge

Design your perfect workspace. Using only the tape provided and your designated space, create a design that shows your ideal workspace.

TIME 10 minutes

Gain an in-depth understanding of design thinking.

Discuss how you can use this project (and other related design thinking experiences) in your classroom.

Experience design thinking first-hand through the Hallway Hieroglyphics project.

Today’s explorations

What is design thinking?

How Design Thinking Can Empower Young Peoplefrom Is School Enough? A video series on Edutopia

Design thinking is a creative and collaborative process for identifying problems and their innovative solutions.Design thinking is one of several teaching strategies that inform the educational content and experiences available on Project MASH, a social network for learning.

Design thinking engages students in an active, meaningful process that connects core content to the real world..

Design thinking facilitates project-based learning. It is naturally interdisciplinary and provides relevant opportunities to improve verbal, written, and visual communication skills.

Design thinking is civically charged.

The design thinking process

The design thinking process

The design thinking process

The design thinking process

Ready to Dig Deeper?Explore the design thinking process with a project from Project MASH.

Have some blank space on your campus that you’d like to transform? Create a hallway hieroglyph! Imagine a visitor walking through the hallways at your school. How can you help improve their experience? Using colored masking tape as a medium, help transform the hallway experience with simple iconic imagery that communicates

Fill this blank with subjects or targeted content from your curriculum.

Hallway Hieroglyphics ProjectA Design Thinking Project from Project MASH

TIMEGOAL

5 minutesTo establish a collaborative team

Choose a partner or small team based on similar subject/content areas

STEP Discover

To conduct an interest inventory by exploring what’s most interesting about your content area.

Work with your team to make a list of all the concepts you cover.

What makes your content area exciting?

What makes your content area unique?

TIMEGOAL

15 minutesSTEP Discover

(cont.)

TIMEGOAL

20 minutesTo make connections between ideas by taking a closer look at your content interests.

Review your list of content area interests. Find as many direct and indirect

associations between the items. Ask why? Ask how?

Create a concept map to show how items on your list are directly or indirectly related. [See the next slide for an example.]

Choose two to three area of focus.

STEP Dig Deeper

Hallway Hieroglyphics ProjectExample concept map from the Critical Design & Gaming School (C:DAGS)

TIMEGOAL

15 minutesTo develop your concept statement.

Using the focus areas you selected, describe how ideas relate to other topics and bigger ideas. This “concept statement” forms the foundation for your hieroglyph. [See the next slide for an example.]

STEP Dig Deeper (cont.)

Example concept statementHallway Hieroglyphics Project

TIMEGOAL To visualize your concept with idea sketches

(part 1)

Create several quick sketches to visualize your concept statement. [See the next slide for examples.]

The goal is not to be perfect. Don’t worry about being artistic. List as many possibilities you can think

of.

25 minutesSTEP Brainstorm

Hallway Hieroglyphics ProjectExample idea sketch

TIMEGOAL

To narrow down your concept based on your idea sketches (part 2).

Circle 3 to 5 of your favorite sketches.

5 minutesSTEP Brainstorm (cont.)

TIMEGOAL To get feedback on your concept based on

your idea sketches (part 3).

Pair up with another team. Share your concept statement and

favorite sketches with them. Ask them what they like, what questions

they have, and what suggestions they have for improvement.

25 minutesSTEP Brainstorm (cont.)

TIMEGOAL To choose a sketch and (re)iterate the design

several times.

Sketch and sketch again. Consider having different team members sketch alone. Then, compare and merge designs into one final drawing.

Write a short summary explaining why you chose this design.

20 minutesSTEP Define

TIMEGOAL To develop a plan for executing your solution.

Using your best sketch, make a plan for your masking tape hieroglyph. [See the next slide for an example.] Remember:

o Masking tape medium will not make curves.

o Color choice is limited to the tape available.

o Your sketch needs to scale to the space’s measurements.

15 minutesSTEP Plan It Out

Hallway Hieroglyphics ProjectExample plan

TIMEGOAL To turn your idea into something

tangible by creating your hieroglyph.

Use masking tape and your design to bring your hieroglyph to life.

Have fun! Remember to focus on the process and not perfection.

60 minutesSTEP Get It Done

What is your concept statement? What sketches do you like best from

your brainstorming session? What is your final design? How might students participate in

this project?

TIME 20 minutes

Project Share

How else might you use the Hallway Hieroglyphics project?

What skills and content did you cover today? If this was adapted to your subject area, what skills or content could you cover using this approach?

What role does technology play? How is this role distinct from the simple notion of “technology integration”?

TIME 2O minutes

Reflection & Discussion

In a small group, brainstorm how the Hallway Hieroglyphics project connects to the Common Core State Standards. Choose one area to brainstorm. Think about your experience today, as well as how the project could be expanded in a classroom setting:•Reading & writing across the

disciplines• Integration of informational text •Task appropriate to purpose & audience

•Point of view & multiple perspectives•A value for evidence (words & data)•Using the right tools for problem solving

TIME 25 minutes

Common Core Connections

Design thinking is an approach to teaching and learning at the heart of Project MASH, a social network for educators, students, and the organizations that serve them. Visit www.projectmash.org for student activities and projects that rely on design thinking and other unique teaching strategies.