Prepared by:

Julie Degner, Jamie Gartley, Alysha Nazerali, & Kristie Strumm

Design thinking
an exploration
EDUC 550
ARTS &
HUMANITIES

design thinking and the 5 steps

Design Thinking:
Explores different alternatives
Leads to the creation of solutions that have not been thought of
before
Draws upon logic, rational thinking and imagination

Design Thinking: Arts and Humanities in Early Childhood

Creative expression
Collaborative efforts
Design culture
Abstract learning
Making and imagining
Design, drawings, sketching
used to expand thinking or to express human experiences
Use of manipulatives
Dramatic plays or representations
dance
movement
puppet shows
storytelling
Expressing your thinking in a way that shows everyone your true
personality and character (developing identity)
Organizing your thoughts in a musical form
Asking new questions and encouraging discussions
Adding the empathy to the process- using the stories as a premise for
designing a solution
Using lived experiences to determine possible solutions
Using literacy as a provocation such as a picture book or novel study

Emerging Questions

How do you foster creativity in each student?

What is the essence of design thinking?
How does it lead to better education?
How can design thinking from a humanities
viewpoint be developed in ECE?
How would you guide your students through the
design thinking process?
How do you encourage all students to
participate in discussions and ask new
questions during design thinking sessions?
How can you incorporate design thinking on a
daily basis in an ECE classroom?
How can you directly connect design thinking
to the specific learner outcomes in the
Alberta curriculum?

Benefits

Empowers kids to develop an entrepreneurial spirit

Kids develop a mindset around solving real world problems
Design thinking leverages collective expertise
Creates value while solving real problems
Develops teamwork and collaboration skills
Students experience first-hand what it is like to be in that
particular industry or job
Students develop the skills to become critical thinkers
Lived experiences serve as an inspiration to make a difference
in the lives of others- empathy, compassion
Encourages innovative thinking and creative problem solving.
Inspires creative confidence
Effective way to engage students
Develops perseverance in children from a young age (FAIL=
First Attempt in Learning)
Enables you to continually expand your knowledge. The learning
NEVER stops!

Challenges

Requires rigorous pre-planning

Can be time consuming
Keeping it simple can be a challenge
Difficult to connect to specific learner
outcomes and the curriculum
Classroom management can be very difficult
Difficult to shift students from Design
Thinking back to a more traditional form of
education

Examples
What do you do with an idea? - Kobi Yamada
Teachers are given a whiteboard table where
they can all draw or write their ideas for
their classes or the school. This allows them
to express their ideas in different ways and
build off of what each person brings to the
table through large-group discussions.
Providing children with different manipulatives
to express their ideas, such as lego, blocks,
paper, paint, whiteboard, etc.
Not a Box - Antoinette Portis
I Wonder Board
Brainstorming of ideas - action plans
Students design their own morning routine

Incorporating Humanities and

the Fine Arts

Grade 1: Hamster Scenario

In this scenario,
students will create
profiles of the
hamsters that they
want. This will include
writing about their
hamster to describe
them, creating a
picture of them, and
presenting their ideas
to the class.

Grade 2: Boat Scenario

In pairs, students will
write stories about the
boats that they created,
as well as make
illustrations to accompany
their boat design. Their
stories will include
writing about how they
would sail their boat
around Canada, what kinds
of communities they would
encounter, and how their
boat might help the
different communities.

Grade 3: Creating a
Classroom
In this scenario,
students would create
models of their
classroom in different
art forms, as well as
write a description of
their ideal classroom
and describe how it
would optimize their
learning.

References
Mark Wolfe Design. (2013). Design thinking ideo. Retrieved from
http://markwolfedesign.com/2013/01/design-thinking-what-is-that/ designthinking-ideo/

Thank You for

exploring!