Katie's Reflection on Design Thinking

Before reading this document, I had little knowledge regarding the process of design or the organizational flow followed to create a new design. Therefore, the process of design involving different modes was a new concept for me. Then, upon further reading, I started to see immediate similarities between this process and how I develop unit/lesson as a teacher. What I found most surprising was the first mode: Empathize. It sparked a response in me because when I think of “design” in terms of education, I don’t always feel this is the first step for me, and others as well. In actuality it should be the first thing you think about when designing a new lesson or curriculum. How will my students relate to this? Am I designing something that will serve a purpose for them? Is it meaningful in their life? Therefore, within the first mode I was already reflecting on my own teaching practice.

Additionally, I found that many of the “Method’s used to ultimately create a specific design to be similar to many of the “Method’s” we use as teachers to develop our curriculum and daily lessons. For example, as a teacher I feel myself continually using the Method of “Interview Preparation” when designing a lesson. I brainstorm questions I want my students to understand and answer, I identify themes and the order of conversations and discussions pertaining to the topic, and I refine questions or create higher level of thinking moments that ask Why? Another “Method” that I relate to is the “Story Share-and-Capture.” As teacher’s, we continually reflect on our own teaching practices and the outcome of a lesson and are constantly looking for themes and patterns that stick out to us with our classes and students. Ultimately, we are trying to understand how our students learn best and what that person needs in order to succeed.

Also, the “Method’s can refer to student-centered interaction where students are performing these types of methods to gain understanding about a specific topic. For example, the Methods: “What? How? Why?” and “I Like, I Wish, What If” both encourage observations, synthesizing, and feedback in an appropriate manner which would be great to use for collaborative discussions among students. Further, the “User Camera Study” and “Shooting Video” Methods allow students to develop curiosity, create storyboards, and create a video from their own perspective. Therefore, I can see these design “Method’s” being used as collaborative and student-centered activities in our own classroom to intrinsically motivate students and spark creativity.