Dig Deeper with Design Thinking A presentation deck for training educators on the Project MASH design thinking process Half-day version

Quick Challenge Design your perfect workspace. Using only the tape provided and your designated space, create a design that shows your ideal workspace. TIME10 minutes

Gain an in-depth understanding of design thinking. Discuss how you can use this project (and other related design thinking experiences) in your classroom. Experience design thinking first-hand through the Hallway Hieroglyphics project. Today’s explorations

What is design thinking?

How Design Thinking Can Empower Young People from Is School Enough? A video series on Edutopia

Design thinking is a creative and collaborative process for identifying problems and their innovative solutions. Design thinking is one of several teaching strategies that inform the educational content and experiences available on Project MASH, a social network for learning.

Design thinking engages students in an active, meaningful process that connects core content to the real world..

Design thinking facilitates project-based learning. It is naturally interdisciplinary and provides relevant opportunities to improve verbal, written, and visual communication skills.

Design thinking is civically charged.

The design thinking process

Ready to Dig Deeper? Explore the design thinking process with a project from Project MASH.

Have some blank space on your campus that you’d like to transform? Create a hallway hieroglyph! Imagine a visitor walking through the hallways at your school. How can you help improve their experience? Using colored masking tape as a medium, help transform the hallway experience with simple iconic imagery that communicates Fill this blank with subjects or targeted content from your curriculum. Hallway Hieroglyphics Project A Design Thinking Project from Project MASH

TIME GOA L 5 minutes To establish a collaborative team Choose a partner or small team based on similar subject/content areas STEPDiscover

To conduct an interest inventory by exploring what’s most interesting about your content area. Work with your team to make a list of all the concepts you cover. What makes your content area exciting? What makes your content area unique? TIME GOA L 15 minutes STEPDiscover (cont.)

TIME GOAL 20 minutes To make connections between ideas by taking a closer look at your content interests. Review your list of content area interests. Find as many direct and indirect associations between the items. Ask why? Ask how? Create a concept map to show how items on your list are directly or indirectly related. [See the next slide for an example.] Choose two to three area of focus. STEPDig Deeper

Hallway Hieroglyphics Project Example concept map from the Critical Design & Gaming School (C:DAGS)

TIME GOA L 15 minutes To develop your concept statement. Using the focus areas you selected, describe how ideas relate to other topics and bigger ideas. This “concept statement” forms the foundation for your hieroglyph. [See the next slide for an example.] STEPDig Deeper (cont.)

Example concept statement Hallway Hieroglyphics Project

TIME GOAL To visualize your concept with idea sketches (part 1) Create several quick sketches to visualize your concept statement. [See the next slide for examples.] The goal is not to be perfect. Don’t worry about being artistic. List as many possibilities you can think of. 25 minutes STEPBrainstorm

Hallway Hieroglyphics Project Example idea sketch

TIME GOA L To narrow down your concept based on your idea sketches (part 2). Circle 3 to 5 of your favorite sketches. 5 minutes STEPBrainstorm (cont.)

TIME GOAL To get feedback on your concept based on your idea sketches (part 3). Pair up with another team. Share your concept statement and favorite sketches with them. Ask them what they like, what questions they have, and what suggestions they have for improvement. 25 minutes STEP Brainstorm (cont.)

TIME GOALTo choose a sketch and (re)iterate the design several times. Sketch and sketch again. Consider having different team members sketch alone. Then, compare and merge designs into one final drawing. Write a short summary explaining why you chose this design. 20 minutes STEP Define

TIME GOALTo develop a plan for executing your solution. Using your best sketch, make a plan for your masking tape hieroglyph. [See the next slide for an example.] Remember: o Masking tape medium will not make curves. o Color choice is limited to the tape available. o Your sketch needs to scale to the space’s measurements. 15 minutes STEP Plan It Out

Hallway Hieroglyphics Project Example plan

TIME GOALTo turn your idea into something tangible by creating your hieroglyph. Use masking tape and your design to bring your hieroglyph to life. Have fun! Remember to focus on the process and not perfection. 60 minutes STEP Get It Done

What is your concept statement? What sketches do you like best from your brainstorming session? What is your final design? How might students participate in this project? TIME20 minutes Project Share

How else might you use the Hallway Hieroglyphics project? What skills and content did you cover today? If this was adapted to your subject area, what skills or content could you cover using this approach? What role does technology play? How is this role distinct from the simple notion of “technology integration”? TIME2O minutes Reflection & Discussion

In a small group, brainstorm how the Hallway Hieroglyphics project connects to the Common Core State Standards. Choose one area to brainstorm. Think about your experience today, as well as how the project could be expanded in a classroom setting: Reading & writing across the disciplines Integration of informational text Task appropriate to purpose & audience Point of view & multiple perspectives A value for evidence (words & data) Using the right tools for problem solving TIME25 minutes Common Core Connections

Design thinking is an approach to teaching and learning at the heart of Project MASH, a social network for educators, students, and the organizations that serve them. Visit for student activities and projects that rely on design thinking and other unique teaching strategies.