This is a follow on article to our original article "5 Design Thinking Examples for Students".

1. Redesigning the Classroom Layout: Design thinking can be used to reimagine the physical layout of a classroom to optimize the learning environment. Students can collaborate, conduct research, and brainstorm ideas on how to rearrange desks, create flexible seating options, or incorporate interactive technology to enhance engagement and foster a more conducive learning atmosphere.

2. Student-Led Innovation Projects: Design thinking can empower students to identify and solve problems they encounter in their daily lives. Students can apply the design thinking process to brainstorm, prototype, and iterate on solutions for issues such as reducing waste, improving school transportation, or enhancing accessibility within the school premises.

3. Designing a Student Support System: Design thinking can be applied to create a student support system that addresses the diverse needs of learners. Students can collaborate with teachers, administrators, and counselors to identify pain points and develop innovative solutions, such as designing an online platform for academic resources, implementing peer mentoring programs, or creating a feedback mechanism for student concerns.

4. Redesigning Educational Materials: Students can use design thinking to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of educational materials. They can analyze existing textbooks, websites, or digital resources and ideate on ways to make the content more engaging, interactive, and inclusive. This might involve designing infographics, videos, or interactive quizzes to enhance comprehension and retention.

5. Enhancing School Community Engagement: Design thinking can help students collaborate with their peers, teachers, and community members to address challenges and improve the school community. Students can design initiatives, such as organizing community events, creating recycling programs, or developing projects that promote inclusivity and cultural understanding within the school environment.

6. Designing a Sustainable School Garden: Students can apply design thinking principles to create a sustainable school garden that promotes environmental awareness, healthy eating habits, and hands-on learning. They can ideate, prototype, and iterate on garden layouts, irrigation systems, composting methods, and plant selection. Reference: "Design Thinking and Sustainable School Garden Education" by Brittany N. Juhnke et al., Sustainability Journal.

7. Redesigning School Lunch: Students can collaborate to reimagine the school lunch experience by applying design thinking. They can conduct research on nutrition, food preferences, and sustainability, and then develop innovative solutions for menu planning, food sourcing, waste reduction, and creating an inviting dining environment. Reference: "Design Thinking and School Lunch: Engaging Students in Healthful Decision Making" by Jessica Levine et al., Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior.

8. Creating Inclusive Playground Equipment: Students can use design thinking to design inclusive playground equipment that accommodates children with different abilities. They can empathize with diverse users, brainstorm inclusive play structures, and develop prototypes that promote accessibility, social interaction, and fun for all. Reference: "Design Thinking for Inclusive Playgrounds: Engaging Children and Their Perspectives" by Julia King et al., Children, Youth and Environments Journal.

9. Designing a Community Recycling Program: Students can apply design thinking to develop a community recycling program that encourages waste reduction and recycling behaviors. They can research recycling systems, create awareness campaigns, design collection bins, and implement strategies for educating the community about recycling practices. Reference: "Design Thinking and Education for Sustainable Development: The Case of a Recycling Program in a School in Brazil" by Sergio Takeo Kofuji and Luís A. da Silva Lopes, International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education.

10. Designing Assistive Devices for Individuals with Disabilities: Students can employ design thinking to create assistive devices that enhance the lives of individuals with disabilities. They can collaborate with users, identify specific needs, and design prototypes for devices such as wheelchair accessories, communication aids, or adaptive learning tools. Reference: "Design Thinking for Kids: Empathy-driven Solutions for the Disabled" by Nur Shazwani Abdul Rashid et al., Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences.

11. Redesigning Classroom Furniture: Students can apply design thinking to redesign classroom furniture to enhance comfort, flexibility, and collaborative learning. They can ideate on alternative seating options, adjustable desks, and modular furniture that supports different learning activities and promotes student engagement. Reference: "Redesigning Classroom Furniture through a Design Thinking Approach for Learning Spaces" by Chee-Kit Looi et al., Journal of Learning Spaces.

12. Designing Educational Board Games: Students can leverage design thinking to create educational board games that make learning fun and engaging. They can identify key concepts, design game mechanics, and prototype games that promote knowledge retention, problem-solving, and teamwork. Reference: "Design Thinking Approach in Creating an Educational Board Game" by Sharifah Nadia Alkaff et al., International Journal of Engineering Education.

13. Redesigning School Backpacks: Students can use design thinking to reimagine school backpacks for improved comfort, organization, and ergonomics. They can conduct user research, gather feedback on pain points, and design prototypes that address issues such as weight distribution, storage compartments, and adjustable straps.

14. Designing a Digital Learning Platform: Students can apply design thinking to create a digital learning platform that caters to their needs and preferences. They can brainstorm. Reference: "A Design Thinking Approach to Improve Backpack Design for Elementary School Students" by Ayten K. Erek et al., International Journal of Engineering Education.

     

By applying design thinking principles, students can develop critical thinking skills, empathy, creativity, and problem-solving abilities. These examples demonstrate how design thinking can empower students to become active participants in their own learning journey and make a positive impact on their educational experience.

Here are some references that highlight successful design thinking initiatives for students:

1. "Design Thinking for Educators" by IDEO: IDEO, a renowned design consultancy, developed a toolkit specifically for educators to apply design thinking in the classroom. The toolkit provides step-by-step guidance, case studies, and real-world examples of design thinking projects in education.

Reference: "Design Thinking for Educators Toolkit" by IDEO, Available at: https://www.designthinkingforeducators.com/

2. "Design Thinking in Education: Empathy, Challenge, Discovery, and Sharing" by Emily Pilloton and Christina Jenkins: This book explores how design thinking can be integrated into educational settings. It offers practical examples, case studies, and strategies for using design thinking to empower students and enhance learning experiences.

Reference: "Design Thinking in Education: Empathy, Challenge, Discovery, and Sharing" by Emily Pilloton and Christina Jenkins, Publisher: Heinemann, 2016.

3. "LAUNCH: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student" by A.J. Juliani and John Spencer: This book provides insights and practical strategies for implementing design thinking in the classroom. It offers a framework called LAUNCH, which guides students through the design thinking process, encouraging them to think critically and solve real-world problems.

Reference: "LAUNCH: Using Design Thinking to Boost Creativity and Bring Out the Maker in Every Student" by A.J. Juliani and John Spencer, Publisher: Dave Burgess Consulting, 2016.

4. "Design Thinking for School Leaders: Five Roles and Mindsets That Ignite Positive Change" by Alyssa Gallagher and Kami Thordarson: This book focuses on how school leaders can leverage design thinking to drive positive change in their educational institutions. It provides practical strategies, case studies, and examples of design thinking applied at the leadership level to improve teaching and learning.

Reference: "Design Thinking for School Leaders: Five Roles and Mindsets That Ignite Positive Change" by Alyssa Gallagher and Kami Thordarson, Publisher: Corwin, 2018.

These references provide valuable insights and resources for educators, administrators, and students interested in implementing design thinking in educational settings. They offer practical guidance, case studies, and strategies to foster creativity, problem-solving, and innovation among students.