Engagement and Impact: Design Thinking and the Arts

Engagement and Impact: Design Thinking and the Arts

That computer mouse that fits so nicely in your hand, the way your iPhone reacts to your creative way of spelling, the „so simple why didn’t I think of that?“ processes you encounter every day – these are the result of design thinking, a sequential process embraced by innovative companies and entrepreneurs. Design thinking, or human-centered design, is an empowering way to solve problems and design products domyhomework.pro/ and solutions by starting with discovery, moving on to ideation and rapid prototyping, then testing, and finally execution.

How can this high-level, innovative style of problem solving work in a classroom or after-school program? Quite well, actually. The West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (WMCAT) engages urban high school students in a best-practice after-school program that is grounded in design thinking. I’ll share our journey so that you can find ways to enhance your own learning environment through design thinking.

6 Steps to a Student-Created Mobile App
WMCAT teen students are working in teams to explore and tackle a pressing community issue using arts and technology as a basis for inquiry, critical thinking and practical application. Each team has 12 students, is guided by a professional teaching artist, and meets two days a week for the entire school year. Here’s the story of how one of these teams is using the design thinking process.

Our Interactive design team went all out with new technology to address how teens can better engage with their city’s downtown core. They partnered with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) and local software development firm Mutually Human to create a mobile app.

Step 1: Discover
Our teens toured downtown Grand Rapids with staff from DGRI, visited the offices of Mutually Human, interviewed teens about their perceptions of downtown, and researched other apps on the market.

Step 2: Ideate
Through intense brainstorming, the teens began to coalesce around two themes: zombies and spies!

Step 3: Experiment
The teens began prototyping by creating storyboards for their app. The basic premise was that users would follow a sequential adventure through which visiting key locations downtown would advance the action. Their storyboard was presented to DGRI.

Step 4: Create
All details of the app were developed, including color schemes, transitions, flow of screens, graphics and writing.

Step 5: Refine
The final storyboard and prototype will be presented to DGRI and at a public art exhibit to gain feedback. Feedback is used to refine the project and fine-tune details.

Step 6: Share
This summer, Mutually Human staff will help complete the back-end work on the app so that it can be available on mobile device platforms.

Why design thinking? WMCAT wanted to increase retention and high school graduation rates for our students. We learned through research and evaluation that we could have a greater impact by increasing engagement with a smaller group of students, rather than increasing the number of students coming through our doors. We also wanted to empower students to raise their voices and effect social change. After all, WMCAT is their space to find their voice and change the world in which they live.

Human-Centered Design
Design thinking and project-based learning surfaced as an essential model in innovative school redesign that improves students’ attitudes toward learning. One of the stars in project-based learning was High Tech High (HTH) in San Diego. The WMCAT Teen Arts team traveled to HTH to complete a residency with their staff on the merits, metrics and ins-and-outs of project-based learning. Back in Grand Rapids, we also selected a team to complete a course in Human-Centered Design for Social Innovation from IDEO and Acumen. And then, last summer I was lucky enough to study at the famed d.school at Stanford, where I began to learn just how we could transform our program for teens.

After piloting design thinking as our pedagogy this past school year, we have learned a few things:

The best projects are student-driven and student-led. The more we engaged our teens in choosing their issues, selecting their partners and driving the conversation, the stronger the projects were.
Give students plenty of opportunities to complete mini design challenges along the way. This helped us teach art and tech skills, kept ideas fresh and retained student interest.
Keep giving staff the opportunity to learn and practice design thinking. This spring, our entire team is completing a Mixtape course designed by the d.school at Stanford and refreshing our skills through the IDEO and Acumen course again.
There are great resources out there. To learn more about our design teams and our plans for fall 2014 visit our website. And in the comments section below, please share how you use design thinking in the classroom or in after-school programs.

Engagement plus Impact: Design Thinking and also the Arts

That sensitive mouse that fits consequently nicely within your hand, how your iPhone reacts in your creative manner of spelling, the main „so very simple why didn’t I think of your? “ systems you skills every day – these are the end result of design wondering, a sequential process embraced by innovative companies and entrepreneurs. Structure thinking, or maybe human-centered design and style, is an empowering way to fix problems and also design parts by starting with discovery, shifting to ideation and high-speed prototyping, afterward testing, and ultimately execution.

Just how does this high-level, innovative design of problem solving give good results in a classroom or after-school program? Very well, actually. Often the West Michigan Center just for Arts + Technology (WMCAT) engages elegant high school students in a best-practice after-school program which can be grounded within design planning. I’ll show our trip so that you can find ways to enhance your own studying environment with design thinking.

6 Measures to a Student-Created Mobile Request
WMCAT teen scholars are working within teams to learn and equipment a pressing community issue using patte and solutions as a base for inquiry, critical believing and program. Each crew has 12 students, is certainly guided by a professional teaching artisan, and fulfills two days a week for the entire university year. This the story of how one of these teams is using the form thinking procedure.

Our Fascinating design crew went outright with new technology to address how teens can certainly better build relationships their city’s downtown primary. They partnered with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc. (DGRI) and local computer software development firm Mutually Human being to create a cell phone app.

Step: Discover
Our youngsters toured down-town Grand Rapids with staff from DGRI, visited the very offices associated with Mutually Human, interviewed teens about their ideas of downtown, and explored other products on the market.

Step two: Ideate
Through extreme brainstorming, the particular teens did start to coalesce all over two designs: zombies together with spies!

Step: Experiment
The adolescents began prototyping by creating storyboards thus to their app. The essential premise had been that buyers would follow a sequential opportunity through which eating out in key web sites downtown would certainly advance often the action. Their whole storyboard appeared to be presented to be able to DGRI.

Step: Create
All information on the request were established, including pallettes, transitions, pass of projection screens, graphics as well as writing.

Step five: Refine
The final storyboard and principe will be brought to you to DGRI and at some sort of public art work exhibit to gain feedback. Reviews is used for you to refine the very project and also fine-tune aspects.

Step 6: Promote
This summer, Mutually Individual staff will help complete typically the back-end use the instance so that it will be available on mobile or portable device types.

Why structure thinking? WMCAT wanted to improve retention as well as high school school rates for the students. Most of us learned with research along with evaluation that individuals could have a better impact by simply increasing diamond with a smaller group of pupils, rather than maximizing the number of pupils coming with our entrance doors. We at the same time wanted to inspire students to increase their voices and benefit social switch. After all, WMCAT is their space to discover their words and replace the world in which they reside.

Human-Centered Layout
Layout thinking and project-based learning surfaced as a possible essential unit in revolutionary school overhaul that helps students’ attitudes toward finding out. One of the celebrities in project-based learning was initially High Tech Great (HTH) on San Diego. Typically the WMCAT Adolescent Arts group traveled to HTH to complete a new residency making use of their staff on the merits, metrics and ins-and-outs of project-based learning. Last Grand Rapids, we as well selected some team to undertake a course for Human-Centered The style of Social Invention from IDEO and Acumen. And then, final summer When i was lucky enough to analyze at the famed d. institution at Stanford, where I began to discover just how we’re able to transform your program to get teens.

Just after piloting structure thinking seeing that our pedagogy this past education year, we have learned a few things:

The ideal projects are student-driven together with student-led. The more we engaged our adolescents in choosing their difficulties, selecting their particular partners along with driving the actual conversation, often the stronger typically the projects were definitely.
Supply students lots of opportunities to full mini style and design challenges in the process. This made it simpler for us coach art and tech capabilities, kept ideas fresh and even retained college interest.
Keep offering staff opportunities to learn in addition to practice style thinking. This spring, each of our entire workforce is filling out a Mixtape course designed by the g. school at Stanford along with refreshing each of our skills over the IDEO in addition to Acumen study course again.
There are terrific resources available. To learn more about the design competitors and our plans intended for fall 2014 visit our website. And in the comments section under, please reveal how you apply design contemplating in the classroom or perhaps in after-school programs.