Eagle's Eye
The Scoop on Innovation and Technology at KCDS
21st Century Skills and Design Thinking
Simply put, you give students relevant learning activities in which they are engaged in critical thinking, design, collaboration, iteration, creativity, and reflection. Activities and assignments that push students to use higher-level critical thinking skills, while encouraging collaboration, communication, and empathy help to develop and hone students' problem solving skills. Activities that encourage the iteration process lead to another important 21st Century Skill KCDS believes is equally important, resiliency. How well do the students handle failure? Do they understand that there is not always one right answer? Do they get back up and try again? The best way to teach this important skill, as well as the other skills mentioned, is to encourage and practice them regularly.
Design Thinking has been around for a long time in the entrepreneurial world, but has recently come to the forefront in education. The process allows problem solvers of any age a chance to create innovative new solutions to problems. In a classroom, it is an opportunity for all students to fully engage in learning through a process that encourages deep understanding, creative confidence, iteration, collaboration, implementation, feedback, resiliency, and reflection. With practice, Design Thinking becomes a mindset. One where thoughts like, "I don't know, but I will figure it out," and "That didn't work, but I will try again," and "Two or three heads are better than one," become the norm. A mindset that doesn't see failure as "failure," but as a step in the right direction. A step towards the future.
Third Graders Present to Peers
Fourth Grade Builds Empathy
Currently, the fourth graders are in the testing stage. They recently presented their prototypes to their classmates for feedback. The feedback these students gave their peers was so important to the iteration process. Not only did they learn how to receive and give feedback, but they also realized that it was necessary to rethink and revise their prototype in order to have the best outcome and to best serve the user.
Senior Kindergarteners use Modified Design Thinking Process
Kalamazoo Country Day School
Email: akava@mykcds.org
Website: kalamazoocountryday.org
Location: 4221 E Milham Ave, Portage, MI, United States
Phone: (269)329-0116
Facebook: facebook.com/KalamazooCountryDaySchool
Twitter: @kcdseagles