Note: The following piece will appear this April in the Spring 2011 Issue of The Lovett School Magazine.
Design Thinking:
A rigorous process that requires failure, encourages creative thinking, and develops passionate problem-solvers.
“When I arrived at the convention center I was faced with a bright green wall with a quote by
Samuel Beckett, ‘Fail. Fail Again. Fail Better.’ At that moment I knew that I was going to fall in
love with Prototype design.” –Lovett junior Lauren Formica
In late January Lovett juniors Lauren Formica and Peter Diaz joined me for an immersive
three-day design-thinking and problem-solving experience in Columbus, Ohio. The event,
Prototype Design Camp, was held in the middle of the Ohio Educational Technology
Conference in partnership with Christian Long, consultant and educator, and his
team from Be Playful/Design Studio. Launched as the pilot for a national model, Prototype
engages hand-selected students with mentors and experts from a variety of disciplines and
careers from around the world. Students are immersed in how to creatively attack problems
using a design-thinking model that challenges them to collaboratively discover, define,
massively prototype, and deliver solutions to a jury panel-within a 2 ½ day time constraint.
Focused on the question “What is the future of learning?” and working side-by-side
with students from all over Ohio, Lauren and Peter interacted with a wide variety of
professionals, many of whom are leaders in their fields: educational thought leaders such
as Ewan McIntosh (Scotland) and Stephen Heppell (England;) professor David Staley, an
expert on “future think” at Ohio State University; Ming-Li Chai, a strategic design researcher
for Microsoft; founders of non-profits; and design mentors from across the country. Many
were able to work with the students on site, or were Skyped in to inspire student thinking
and answer questions. The value of that engagement was not lost on the students. As Peter
explains:
"What I liked was that we were constantly surrounded by innovative thinkers
who ponder the same kind of questions as myself. Education is something that
is important to me and Prototype provided me with an outlet to express what I
had been thinking about and collaborate with other students to create something
innovative."
However, both students found that the process of identifying problems and collaboratively
constructing solutions a challenge. Lauren writes about her team’s experience:
"My group had no trouble identifying problems, but when it came to solutions we had
so many ideas we did not know how to get them all out and make a comprehensive
solution to a problem. Although this was a dilemma, it was a fantastic dilemma! We
were all teeming with ideas and solutions that made this experience incredible."
It was fascinating to observe the students each day, and then debrief and talk further about
education issues with Lauren and Peter each evening. The night before presentations
to the jury, the anxiety level was high but I could tell our students were totally invested
in a unique and powerful learning experience. They were being challenged to move
fluidly between convergent and divergent thinking,; exercise collaboration skills at a
very high level; prepare to present ideas to experts in the field; and manage to each day’s
intense “hard stop” deadlines. Not unlike the real world!
Proof of concept came on Wednesday as we watched the teams present their
final “prototypes” to the jury panel. From the development of “apps” for a Youth News
Network to an “out of the box” learning environment, we heard and saw students
demonstrate their passion for learning—learning that asks them to think deeply, self-
organize, connect to the real world, encourages failure as process, and is about “them.” It
was exciting and inspiring for everyone involved, and I was delighted to see the energy and
interest in helping students take their prototypes on to the next steps of development and
testing.
Lauren and Peter are both working with their teams to continue their idea development,
and we are examining opportunities to provide a Prototype Design Camp in Atlanta for area
schools. Also, Christian Long and his design-thinking team will be working with Lovett’s
head librarian Robyn Martin and me next fall as we launch a national “prototyping” event to
address the future of libraries.
“Coming away from the experience,” Lauren said, “I am inspired and invigorated! I came
home with ideas, solutions, and thoughts that I cannot wait to share with anyone who will
listen!”
Photos courtesy of Jeremy Slagle and Meredith Melragon