Module 1C
The 3 Ways of Thinking
Module 1C
The 3 Ways of Thinking
Define each of the 3 Ways of Thinking: Design, Computational and Systems.
Place them in context within the Digital Technologies learning area and emphasise their broad applicability.
Discover examples of classroom activities that encourage application of these thinking skills.
Provide starting points for further resources with a small number of specific, highly relevant links.
Watch the video below.
Links relevant to the video:
Bebras 365 Computational Thinking challenges
Get started with Design Thinking from Stanford d.school (Hasso Plattner Institute
of Design)
Systems Thinking handbook from the Institute of Play
Habits of a Systems Thinker cards by Waters Center for Systems Thinking (PDF hosted at Digital Technologies Hub)
As a Design Thinking process model, the British Design Council's Double Diamond offers an alternative to the Stanford d.design School model.
View the brief Wikipedia article and diagram linked above, then consider how this approach might complement the Stanford approach: Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test.
Briefly consider your own school. Which of the 3 Ways of Thinking is most heavily emphasised in the Technologies learning areas in your school? Which is the most neglected?
Click the green flag and complete the activity below. It provides an example of how Computational Thinking can be used in a Year 5-8 classroom setting to come up with a complete algorithm.
Do you think this kind of activity would work in your classroom? What might you do differently?
If you teach lower levels, what might be a simpler algorithm to work through with your students?
Note down your thoughts for discussion during the live component of this workshop.
View both videos below.
This video describes how smartphones can be used as a context for Digital Systems exploration.
This video introduces a lesson hosted at the Digital Technologies Hub with an explicit laying out of Systems Thinking habits and concepts.
Both activities above employ Systems Thinking in a Digital Technologies context. How might other learning areas benefit from an explicit Systems Thinking approach? eg. Humanities, Science, Religious studies.
Choose one of the two options below and complete the task underneath.
If your school implements Australian Curriculum (up to V8.4), find the Digital Technologies content descriptions and achievement standards for the year band(s) most relevant to you here.
Read the Achievement Standard and Learning Area Achievement Standard, noting the presence of the 3 Ways of Thinking.
Browse the Content Descriptions.
Which one(s) most connect with a Computational Thinking process?
Which one(s) most connect with a Design Thinking process?
Which one(s) most connect with Systems Thinking habits?
If your school implements Victorian Curriculum, find the Digital Technologies content descriptions and achievement standards for the level band(s) most relevant to you here.
Read the Achievement Standard, noting the presence of the 3 Ways of Thinking.
Browse the Content Descriptions.
Which one(s) most connect with a Computational Thinking process?
Which one(s) most connect with a Design Thinking process?
Which one(s) most connect with Systems Thinking habits?
Posters and infographics:
Videos, lessons and resources:
Lengthy guide: Computing at School (UK)
Videos, lessons and resources:
Specific models / approaches:
Stanford d.design Design Thinking methodology
British Design Council's Double Diamond
Ideo.org's Human Centred Design
Videos, lessons and resources:
Digital Technologies in Focus (ACARA)
Explanatory video from Catholic Diocese of Ballarat, Victoria
Don't forget to note down any thoughts or questions for the live component of the workshop.
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