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Mature male auto-mechanics teacher answering questions about a machine from three diverse high school students, one is pointing at the machine.

Incorporate THINK Skills for Student-Centered Learning: Use Design Thinking as Your School’s Foundational Backbone

Inflexion January 16, 2021
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Design thinking relies on the natural — and coachable — human ability to be intuitive, to recognize patterns, and to construct ideas that are emotionally meaningful as well as functional.

– Tom Kelley

INTRO

Identify a THINK framework, such as design thinking, to set up as a foundational backbone that can be embedded every period, every day throughout your school. Check out Waipahu High School in Hawaii for examples.

THINK skills and behaviors are often grounded in critical thinking and inquiry. Examples include: ideation, creativity, innovation, and design thinking. Ultimately, THINK is about approaching situations and ideas with versatile and intentional thinking patterns.

OBJECTIVES

  • Brainstorm and start planning for how your school can incorporate a THINK framework/Design Thinking for the benefit of all students

RESOURCE LINKS

ACTIVITY

Review the provided resource that highlights how Waipahu High School is one of the most successful high schools in Hawaii.

KEY POINTS

How did they do it?

  • Students enroll in one of six career pathways (Arts and communications, Business Services, Health Services, Industrial Engineering Technology, Natural Resources, or Public and Human Services).

  • Committed to a project-based learning model and small learning communities.

  • Incorporates elements of Design Thinking.

YOUR TURN

  • Brainstorm ideas for how your school can incorporate a THINK framework/Design Thinking for the benefit of all students
    • with your leadership team, teachers, and even students and community
      • the provided “THINK” PDF can help you get started.

  • Identify a THINK framework, such as design thinking, to set up as a foundational backbone that can be embedded every period, every day throughout your school.

  • (Re)design and commit to your schoolwide THINK/design thinking framework

TIPS

  • Big Plays are more substantial efforts that take 6-18 months to fully accomplish.
    • Give yourself, your leadership team, and your school time to survey all stakeholders, brainstorm and plan for possible solutions, and check in with stakeholders along the way
      • Remember, this is not a quick fix: You’re establishing schoolwide changes that should better serve all students for years to come
  • Like this activity? Check out Inflexion’s full-page THINK document for more ideas.
Categories: Inflexion Protocols, Instructional Practices, Rituals & Routines
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