What is Design Thinking?
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At East Wake iTech & Design Magnet High School, we use Design Thinking as a student-centered approach to learning. Design Thinking is a creative problem-solving process that encourages students to look at real-world challenges, generate innovative solutions, and test their ideas in meaningful ways.Design Thinking is not a straight line — it’s a cycle. You often go back to earlier steps (like Empathize or Ideate) as you learn more. It’s all about solving real problems in a human-centered, creative way.Design Thinking Steps:
- Empathize — Students start by understanding the people they are designing for. They observe, interview, and gather insights about others’ needs, challenges, and experiences.
- Define — Using what they’ve learned, students clearly state the problem they want to solve, often framing it as a “How might we…?” question.
- Ideate — Students brainstorm as many ideas as possible. This step encourages big thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
- Prototype — Students create quick, low-cost versions of their ideas — models, sketches, or digital mock-ups to share them with others.
- Test — Students gather feedback on their prototypes. They can refine their solutions, if possible.
- Reflect — This stage asks students to pause and think about what worked, what didn’t, and what they would do differently next time. It turns each iteration into a learning experience and strengthens future designs.
Why It Matters:
Design Thinking is more than just a process — it’s a mindset. It teaches students to be innovators, collaborators, and problem-solvers. By moving through this cycle, they learn how to empathize with others, think critically, and persist through challenges. These skills prepare students for success in college, careers, and life beyond the classroom.At East Wake, Design Thinking is woven into learning across all subject areas. Whether students are designing solutions in a science lab, brainstorming projects in social studies, or prototyping in a technology class, they are developing the skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
