Design Thinking
Design Thinking
Design Thinking
Introduction
The students find learning mathematics most engaging when they are involved in a
thinking process that results in an output that can be applied to relevant context. The design-
thinking process engages the students in such a thought-provoking and purposeful activity.
Think
Design thinking is a progressive teaching strategy that allows the students to look for
real-world problems and finding creative solutions, students do this by focusing on the needs of
others, collaborating for possible solutions, and prototyping and testing their creations.
Five stages
Empathize
The goal of design thinking is for the students to respond to a particular need (a real-
world problem) so it is fitting that the first stage is empathy. In this stage, the teacher needs to be
explicit in guiding the students to put themselves in the shoes of others through activities like
immersed observation and interviews.
Example
Observe your classmates, teachers during recess time. Take time to casually interview
some of them about their usual recess experiences.
User
Needs
User’s needs
Because
Insight
Ideate
The third stage of design thinking is the generation of ideas to solve the identified
problem. This involves brainstorming and research. The students are to be encouraged to think
out the box and produce radical ideas. What sets this stage apart from the usual brainstorming is
that all ideas must be written or illustrated.
Example
Write/ sketch at least four innovative ways to address your users needs. Be specific with
your measurements and/ or proportions, if needed.
Idea 1 Idea 2
Idea 3 Idea 4
QUIZ:
Our quiz class is the example given above, which is the empathize and define, you should
write it in a ½ sheet of pad paper.