Using design thinking in projects

Anna Lucia Gartels Ruiz presented on design thinking, a student-centered, collaborative, and iterative problem-solving methodology for educators. She outlined its five steps: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test. Anna shared her experience with 8-9 year olds, where students researched Patagonian wildfires, interviewed experts (including a Yellowstone park ranger), and created prototypes like a seed-throwing gun to address the issue. She also provided an 8-step guide for teachers to plan their own design thinking projects. The approach is adaptable for diverse age groups and abilities, fostering 21st-century skills and connecting learners to real-world problems.