Design Thinking is an innovative approach applied to foster creative problem-solving. Although it was initially utilized in the context of design processes (as the name suggests), it has evolved to encompass various fields, including education. Teachers can leverage Design Thinking to empower students' creativity and inspire them to develop effective solutions that address authentic needs in their daily lives.

THE DESIGN THINKING APPROACH HAS FIVE PHASES

EMPATHIZE:

During this stage of the Design Thinking process, students aim to develop an empathetic understanding of the problem they are seeking to solve. This involves engaging in conversations with experts, conducting interviews, making real observations, immersing themselves in the context, engaging in discussions, and conducting research. The goal is to gather as much information as possible about the problem's context and to set aside any preconceived assumptions, gaining valuable insights into people and their needs.

DEFINE:

The Define stage builds upon the information gathered during the Empathize stage. Here, students analyze their observations and synthesize them to define the core problem they have discovered thus far. The primary objective of this phase is to formulate a clear problem statement that accurately captures the essence of the identified issue.

IDEATE:

During the Ideate stage, students are encouraged to think outside the box and generate original solutions in response to the problem statement formulated in phase two. Teachers play a crucial role in fostering a brainstorming environment, where students are encouraged to generate as many ideas and potential solutions as possible.

PROTOTYPE:

The Prototype phase is often a favorite among students. Here, they transform their ideas into tangible prototypes, enabling users to interact with and explore the proposed solutions. Based on users' experiences, these prototypes may provide valuable insights for further refinement.

TEST:

In the final Test phase, prototypes are evaluated to identify areas for improvement. Users provide feedback to the students, enabling them to assess their products and make necessary enhancements or even start the design process anew if required.