Design Thinking: An educational Strategy in Teaching and Learning

Purpose & objective

RISE – Rescue Information Search Exploration

At the end of October 2021, a group of fourth and sixth grade elementary students were selected as a team to participate in an international challenge.
The theme of the contest was “Innovate with the Force of Nature”, in other words, look for opportunities to help when natural disasters strike. With this idea, the team of students began a five-month journey, during which they learned about and applied the stages of Design Thinking.

To start preparing their proposal, they recognized the importance of empathy when understanding the problem. They consulted their parents, friends and experts on the subject (Firefighters and the Red Cross). In this way they achieved an initial approach through an action plan.

As a next step, they proposed their ideas through sketches that each one made and then shared to unite them into a single idea.

Additionally, they created a video to tell the educational community about the work they had accomplished.

First results: Video of the team commenting on their progress
https://youtu.be/PKiSpNul6q4

After receiving feedback on their sketches, they began the creation phase.

They created a physical model with the characteristics of the proposed solution. The materials used were obtained from the Maker Lab, and this is how they built the minimum viable product and began to carry out tests.

To carry out some tests they invited one of the experts in the field of first aid and rescue support, to show him the solution. This guest had the opportunity to use the robot and give her comments as feedback.

Finally, the team produced a video to tell the whole process of creating their innovative proposal: RISE, a search and rescue robot that explores, investigates and searches.

Video of the team showing their final experience:
https://youtu.be/FLFamNPnVOo

Technology intervention
Microsoft Teams
This tool helps in the management of files, meetings and materials throughout the process.

PowerPoint
We use it to create interactive presentations in which different ideas are summarized.

Canvas
It was used to create visual material such as infographics, posters, etc.

Flip
We used it for the recording of the videos, when we could not meet due to the COVID-19 quarantine.

Jamboard
An online whiteboard that allows you to brainstorm, propose and show sketches.

Video Editor
Depending on the device and operating system, this app has different names: iMovie, Video Editor, etc.

Scratch Online
Web tool that allows you to develop computational thinking through block programming.

Scratch link add on
Extension to connect Scratch online with the LEGO EV3 brick.

EV3 Classroom
Platform to learn and practice with the LEGO EV3 set.

LEGO Mindstorms EV3 CoreSet
Construction pieces of the LEGO Mindstorms robot in its educational edition.

Instructional activities/strategies employed

Taking the Pinion Learn tool as a starting point, the students were guided at different learning moments. Those learning moments or sessions are part of design thinking.

For more details about Pinion Education visit: https://pinion.education/en/

Empathy and Define Session:
It consists of a situation in which the context or main theme is used to start looking for the causes, consequences, people or institutions involved in the problem.
The interview, the reading of documents or the search for video material are used.
At the end of the data collection, the team brainstorms the problems identified.
And these ideas are used to establish an action plan.

Ideate Session
This is the moment to elaborate the sketches and drafts of the ideas of each member of the team.
It is important at this stage to mention the possible materials needed for the elaboration.
After creating the individual versions, the sketches can be used to establish a single clear idea.
To share their first ideas they can create videos, podcasts or the like of their progress.

Prototype session.
Using the materials available in a laboratory
Maker or a place inside the classroom, the assembly of the initial prototype begins. Sometimes it works as a draft because even at this stage improvements can be incorporated.
When you have the initial prototype, you proceed to develop a minimum viable version (meaning a product that contains the most essential characteristics to present it to the educational community).

Test session and reflection.
With the minimum viable version, a video summary of the process carried out by the team is made.
They mention the successes and failures they had in all the stages.
They can invite other students, teachers, family members or people related to the topic to test their prototypes, so that they can give the team positive feedback (constructive criticism).
In this space they listed possible improvements for the next iteration.

Evidence of success.

The team participated with this proposal in an international contest called Reto Pinion 2022. This contest sought to recognize different skills that were highlighted throughout the preparation of their proposals.

The skills recognized by the RISE team were: Researcher, Creative, Creator and Communicative.

Achieving a precedent by obtaining four of the six badges.
For more information you can access the link
https://reto.pinion.rocks/primaria/r-i-s-e/
The password is PinionRocks2022.

Finally, the team has been motivated to continue improving its proposal.
This is why the team was inspired to apply to ISTE23.
They want to share the RISE initiative with more people, collecting suggestions to create the next version of their prototype.

Outline

Sharing the Stages of Design Thinking (10min)
Through a game of characters, each stage of Design Thinking will be explained to visitors.
At the same time, it will be explained how they relate to the process of preparing the RISE proposal.
Demonstrative activities will be carried out with the prototype of the robot and its environment. (5 min)
The prototype and its operation will be presented at the assigned stand.
Testing time for visitors. (10 min)
To motivate participation, participants will be chosen to answer questions on the topic explained. And they will be provided with devices to test the RISE prototype.
Collection of comments or suggestions. (5min)
Using Flip, visitors will be prompted to share their comments.

Supporting research

https://pinion.education/es/blog/design-thinking-educacion/
https://pinion.education/es/blog/aula-invertida-impulsa-autoaprendizaje/