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MITx: 11.155x Design Thinking for Leading and Learning

Welcome to Design Thinking for Leading and Learning!

ABOUT THIS COURSE

How do we prepare K-12 students and learning communities to be as successful as possible? If future jobs require creativity, problem-solving and communication, how do we teach these skills in meaningful ways? How do we bring together passionate school leaders to create systemic solutions to educational challenges? 

The course is organized into three, two-week sections that combine design thinking content with real-world education examples, as well as opportunities for participants to apply concepts in their own setting. In the first unit, we'll overview different approaches to design thinking, explore the potential for bringing design thinking into schools, and engage in a hands-on design challenge to practice the process. In the second unit, we'll see real-world examples of how and why PK-12 classrooms use the design thinking process to enhance student learning. You'll experiment with the process in your own classroom or workplace. In the last unit, see how and why PK-12 institutions use the design thinking process to address systemic change. You'll consider using design thinking to solve a problem in your own school community.

After we've introduced the design process and other key concepts in Unit 1, Units 2 and 3 will release simultaneously to give you the space and flexibility to explore the content and tackle the design challenges in the way that works best for you.

  • Unit 1: Meet Design Thinking (March 21, 2017)

Assignment 1: Be a Designer (suggested due date: April 4, 2017)

- Welcome Live Event with Course Staff (6:30 PM UTC, March 22, 2017)

  • Unit 2: Design Thinking in the Classroom (April 5, 2017) 

Assignment 2: Create a Design Activity (suggested due date: April 30, 2017)

  • Unit 3: Design Thinking in Our Schools (April 5, 2017) 

- Live Event with Blake Sims (2:00 PM UTC, April 14, 2017)

Assignment 3: Design for Change (suggested due date: April 30, 2017) 

- Wrap-Up & Share Live Event with Course Staff (7:00 PM UTC, May 3, 2017)

Course concludes May 3, 2017, Certificates generated around May 10, 2017

COURSE CALENDAR

The calendar below includes course events and suggested due dates. If you have questions, look at the list of dates above.