The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a skill module titled "Design Thinking & Innovation" for middle school students in Classes 6 to 8. This initiative, developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell and IIT Bombay, aims to equip students with the tools and exposure necessary to address problems creatively using the design thinking process. The Times of India+4Scribd+4Odisha TV+4The Times of India+4Odisha TV+4Scribd+4
Objective of the Module: The "Design Thinking & Innovation" module is designed to help students:
Identify and solve problems creatively, regardless of the field or specialization.
Develop an attitude towards design by acquiring both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.
Engage in hands-on learning by addressing challenges within their community and surroundings.
Explore their sensory, cognitive, and social abilities through observation, discovery, analysis, experience, collaboration, and reflection. The New Indian Express+1successcds+1
Implementation in Schools:
The module is structured to provide initial exposure to design thinking for students in Classes 6 to 8, with a duration of 18-20 hours. This exposure aims to nurture curiosity and motivate students to explore and experiment.
From Classes 9 to 12, Design Thinking & Innovation is introduced as a regular subject comprising various related modules, each with a duration of 160 hours.
All CBSE-affiliated schools are eligible to introduce this module as part of their curriculum.
Teaching and Assessment:
The learning approach involves playful, immersive experiences where students learn through experiential, exploratory, and hands-on methods. They solve contextual problems by exploring and experimenting with creative options.The Times of India+1www.slideshare.net+1
Classrooms transform into studios where students can collaborate, cooperate, and work together to find solutions.The Times of India+1www.slideshare.net+1
Teachers act as mentors, supporting students throughout the learning and doing process.
Assessment is continuous, evaluating the performance of tasks carried out by students throughout the academic year. Specific criteria for assessment are defined in the workbook provided for the module.
Resources Available: CBSE has made several resources available to facilitate the implementation of this module:
FAQs and Introduction Document: Provides an overview and answers common questions about the module.
Student Workbook: Includes an introduction to the subject, learning objectives, competencies, tasks, grading criteria, assessment matrix, feedback forms, and references.
Exposure Slides/Videos: Supports each module with visual or video content accessible to both teachers and students.
Teacher’s Manual: Offers detailed guidance on teaching methods, objectives, task sequences, assessment matrices, and evaluation forms for feedback.
These resources can be accessed on the CBSE Academic website under the skill education section. Odisha TV+1Scribd+1
Infrastructure Requirements:
The curriculum is structured so that it can be taught in standard classrooms.
Provision should be made for students to work together in groups of 2 to 4.
Arrangements should be made to display students' work on classroom walls to facilitate discussions and presentations.
While access to computers and the internet is beneficial, it is not mandatory. For schools without internet access, physical copies of the workbooks, teacher’s manual, and exposure content can be provided.
Teacher Training:
It is recommended that existing teachers be trained to implement the Design Thinking & Innovation curriculum.
CBSE will provide training to teachers, and the teacher’s manual is designed to facilitate and support this activity, ensuring that the course is easy to understand and deliver, even with limited resources.
By integrating the "Design Thinking & Innovation" module into the middle school curriculum, CBSE aims to foster creativity and problem-solving skills among students, preparing them to navigate and address real-world challenges effectively