Dig Deeper with Projects in
Design Thinking
A presentation deck for training educators on the
Project MASH design thinking process
Full day version
Quick Challenge
TIME
5 minutes
Pick one of the spaces below. In a small
group, have a contest to brainstorm the
weirdest ideas for how that space might be
used.
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Cafeteria
Classroom
Playground
Hallways
Library
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Media center
Science lab
Parking lot
Teachers’ lounge
Main office
Today’s explorations
Gain an in-depth understanding design
thinking.
Experience design thinking first-hand through
the School (re)Design project and other
Project MASH activities.
Discuss how you can use this project (and
other design thinking experiences) in your
classroom.
What is design thinking?
How Design Thinking Can Empower Young People
from Is School Enough? A video series on Edutopia
Design thinking is a creative and collaborative
process for identifying problems and their
innovative solutions.
Design thinking is one of several teaching
strategies that inform the educational content
and experiences available on Project MASH, a
social network for learning.
Design thinking engages students in an
active, meaningful process that connects
core content to the real world.
Design thinking facilitates project-based
learning. It is naturally interdisciplinary and
provides relevant opportunities to improve
verbal, written, and visual communication
skills.
Design thinking is civically charged.
The design thinking process
The design thinking process
The design thinking process
The design thinking process
Ready to Dig
Deeper?
Explore the design thinking process with a
project from Project MASH.
School (re)Design Project
A Design Thinking Project from Project MASH
For today’s design thinking workshop, we’ll explore the School
(re)Design Project. We’ll also incorporate other activities
available for students on Project MASH, including:
Needfinding
Scavenger Hunt
Empathy
Dice Game
BrainCooker
School (re)Design Project
A Design Thinking Project from Project MASH
Take your ideas about how to make your school better
and use design thinking to take action!
During this activity you will:
 Identify a problem space and turn it into your
opportunity.
 Develop a unique way to make it better.
STEP
Discover
TIME
5 minutes
GOAL
To identify an area of interest.
 Have a quick conversation with your team about
the following question: Is there a space
(cafeteria, schoolyard, classroom, halls) or a
need (student boredom, lack of parental
involvement, others) that is of interest to you?
 Share responses and record a list to keep track
of interests.
STEP
Discover (cont.)
TIME
GOAL
45 minutes
To discover a need in your school using the
Needfinding Scavenger Hunt from Project MASH (Part
1).
 Make a list (5 minutes): Who are the stakeholders in
your school community? This may include students,
teachers, parents, custodial staff, cafeteria staff,
community members, nearby businesses.
 Choose 1 to 2 types of stakeholders to focus on and
then conduct as many interviews as possible.
Needfinding Scavenger Hunt
Sample interview questions for your community stakeholders
What are your favorite places on the school campus?
What characteristics make those spaces special?
What do you like about this community? What are your
hopes and dreams for its future?
STEP
Discover (cont.)
TIME
20 minutes
GOAL To analyze your data from the Needfinding
Scavenger Hunt (Par 2).
Review your needfinding interview results.
 Sort the results into categories.
 What patterns emerge?
 Identify one key need or a related set of
needs you’d like to focus on moving forward.
STEP
Dig Deeper
TIME
45 minutes
GOAL To develop empathy for your target audience using the
Empathy Dice Game activity from Project MASH.
 Based on your identified need, choose a target
audience (i.e. specific student or staff member).
 Develop six questions for your empathy dice and
conduct your interview(s). Roll your dice for the first
question and then listen carefully to the answers.
Keep in mind: Empathy helps us value and
understand why people feel & think a certain way.
Empathy Dice Game
Sample empathy-building questions
What is one of your favorite quotes?
If you could paint a picture of any scenery you’ve seen
before, what would you paint?
When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you
pass the time?
What is the best part of waking up for you?
STEP Dig Deeper (cont.)
TIME
15 minutes
GOAL To develop a design statement that articulates your
problem or need using the Design Statement Mad Lib
activity from Project MASH.
A design statement clearly frames the challenge, your
point of view, and the opportunities you’ve discovered
through research. Before writing your statement, identify:
 Specific problem,
 Specific audience, and
 Underlying causes of the problem or need.
Design Statement Mad Lib
Design statement sample language
STEP
Brainstorm
TIME
20 minutes
GOAL To brainstorm possible solutions to your problem or
need using the BrainCooker activity from Project MASH.
 Get your Braincooker template and complete it by
filling in brainstorming prompts.
 Cut out the die and play Braincooker.
o Embrace wild & wacky ideas.
o List as many possibilities as you can imagine.
BrainCooker
Sample prompts
List three random words associated with your
problem/need. Then, come up with a description that
links two of the words.
List five random words associated with your problem.
Create a chain, or relationship, that links them in order.
Think of the absolute craziest possible solution to the
problem (while still tied to the research made in the “Dig
Deeper” steps).
STEP
Define
TIME
20 minutes
GOAL To sort the results from your brainstorming session using the
Pros vs. Cons activity from Project MASH.
Create a T-chart on a wall or table and write “Pros” on one
column and “Cons” on the other. Write your Design
Statement at the top of the T-chart. Pick a Post-it note color
and write each idea on a separate sticky-note. Place your
ideas directly underneath your problem statement. Pick two
other colors; one of these will be for the pros and one will be
for the cons.
Pros vs. Cons
Example T-chart
STEP Plan It Out
TIME 15 minutes
GOAL To develop a plan for executing your solution (Part
1).
Choose your best idea (or a combination of two to
three “best” ideas) and make a plan! Consider:
o Assigning Roles: Divide and conquer the
various tasks.
o Timing: You’ll have 45 minutes to create a
prototype or sketch for sharing.
STEP
Plan It Out (cont.)
TIME
30 minutes
GOAL To create a prototype for gathering feedback (Part 2).
Create a prototype that is either:
o Illustrative: A sketch or rough design
o 3D: A model of the design using materials or
modelling tools
This is the time to start implementing your project plan!
Have fun, and remember to focus on the process and not on
perfection.
STEP Plan It Out (cont.)
TIME
20 minutes
GOAL To create a prototype for gathering feedback (Part 3).
Take turns sharing your prototype with another team.
 Ask them what they like, what questions they
have, and what suggestions they have for
improvement.
 Revise your prototype and get ready to
(re)design!
STEP
Get It Done
TIME
45 minutes
GOAL To create a 3D design to share.
Use the materials available to make your design
3D!
 Think about how materials can function
differently.
 Assign team roles to ensure you get it done!
Project Share
TIME
15 minutes
 What are your general findings from the
School (re)Design project? Summarize these.
 What opportunity did you identify?
 What 3D prototype did you design to respond
to the problem or need?
 How might your students further address the
opportunity?
Reflection & Discussion
TIME
20 minutes
 How else might you use the School (re)Design
project?
 What skills and content did you cover today? If
this was adapted to your subject area, what skills
or content could you cover using this approach?
 What role does technology play? How is this role
distinct from the simple notion of “technology
integration”?
Common Core Connections
TIME
30 minutes
In a small group, brainstorm how the School (re)Design
project connects to the Common Core State Standards.
Choose one area to brainstorm. Think about your
experience today, as well as how the project could be
expanded in a classroom setting:
• Reading & writing across the
disciplines
• Integration of informational text
• Task appropriate to purpose &
audience
• Point of view & multiple perspectives
• A value for evidence (words & data)
• Using the right tools for problem
solving
Design thinking is an approach to teaching and
learning at the heart of Project MASH, a social
network for educators, students, and the
organizations that serve them.
Visit www.projectmash.org for student activities
and projects that rely on design thinking and other
unique teaching strategies.