“Design Thinking, simply put, is learning to exercise agency and solve problems through empathy and creativity. For each subject, students can approach problems with the Design Thinking method, which is: questioning the problem, questioning the assumptions, and questioning the implications,” explains Mr. Adam Hill, the Innovation Lead at VPA. “We teach them to empathise with the end-user, challenge assumptions, and redefine problems in order to generate alternative solutions that might not have been instantly apparent upon first glance. Ultimately, they are empowered to find and solve problems, which is key in thriving in the 21st century.”
When asked if the young students have difficulty in understanding the concept and terminology of Design Thinking, Mr. Hill explains that the benefit of introducing this method to students at an early age is so they are able to learn the process, understand the language, and apply the concepts quickly
into their creative work. In one example, his Year 3 students were learning about 'Conflicts' and explored student conflicts within the school. Using the Design Thinking process, they empathised with users (the students), defined their needs and problems (student conflict), ideated (challenged assumptions and created ideas for innovative solutions, prototyped and tested their solutions).
When asked what kind of characteristics is mostly appreciated in nurturing “the inquirers”, Mr. Hill explains that design thinking has an exciting place in the inquiry classroom because, at its core, it is an inquiry process. It offers a framework for inquiring into problems, empathising with people who are impacted, and using creativity to design effective solutions. In Adam’s opinion, Inquiry relies on relentless curiosity, efficacy and agency. All learners - regardless of age - should be hungry to learn more and have a belief in their own potential. Effective inquirers are equipped with the skills and mindset of a successful lifelong learner.
