INFO 250 Spring 2021

Project 4:

Design Thinking

For this project, we will form groups of 2-4 individuals who will be challenged to construct a learning experience based on Design Thinking.

What is Design Thinking?

Design thinking is a cousin to the traditional inquiry investigations that are typically assigned in K-12 schools and in academia. Instead of asking the learner to summarize what is known about a particular topic, design thinking liberates the learner to create or invent something that will benefit a need they have discovered. Individuals and small groups of learners will have the opportunity of a wide choice in what they explore and will be encouraged to think creatively, cooperate with their group, and develop collaborative intelligence to solve a problem, invent something new, and make a difference in their school, community, or beyond. In our class, we look at two types of learning experiences the build on design: Invention and Systems. To grasp these two concepts consult the Digital Learning Leader website at: https://sites.google.com/view/digital-learning-leader/home

Where to Start?

Become familiar with the Design thinking Models out there. Read, view and listen to resources that describe this kind of learning experience. Below are three different visuals of the model followed by various resources you might use to understand the concept and compare it to traditional inquiry that often happens in libraries. Think about the idea of makerspaces as part of a library learning commons that is integral for teacher librarians to encourage design thinking.

Next, look at the Umbrella Creation Model Tutorial. This tutorial is useful in building a design thinking learning experience with the teacher librarian as a partner with a classroom teacher. Check out the Unit Plans page to help you create your KBC.

Finally, visit, study and use the Umbrella Create Model Tutorial to help your group get an idea of your project and how to proceed. You will create a KBC as you did for Projects 2 and 3 complete with mentoring activities, culminating event, and the Big Think. The various rooms you crate on the KBC might follow the design thinking process: a room for empathy, brainstorming, prototypes, etc.

The deadline for this rough draft project is by Workshop 6.

Design Thinking Media:

Video: IBM's Design thinking and agile thinking model
Video: A quick overview of design thinking
Video: More on design thinking with kids
Interview: TedTalk by head of IDEO, David Kelley, that discusses design thinking, Guided Mastery, creative confidence, and self efficacy (short version)
Interview: David Kelley on design thinking (the long version, but worth it)