Innovating to Build and Support an Inclusive DiscoverDesign Community
Supporting high school teachers through a toolkit introducing DiscoverDesign and the design process
In the past year CAF not only overhauled DiscoverDesign.org in response to student, teacher and mentor feedback, we also conducted an extensive analysis of the patterns of participation of our users. This evaluation, combined with data from Chicago City of Learning (CCOL), provided benchmark data that informed the development of this proposal. Two opportunities emerged from this analysis:
1. With access to data about our users we can begin to be more strategic about targeting teachers and schools as an intervention strategy to create access to design thinking for young people who otherwise might not have the opportunity to develop this skill.
2. Existing users most often integrate DiscoverDesign directly into their classroom teaching plans. This is a powerful opportunity because it ensures ongoing exposure for students and a high degree of retention once a teacher becomes part of the community. However, it is challenging for prospective users to understand DiscoverDesign features, the ways the design process supports state, local and national standards and how to most effectively integrate DiscoverDesign into classroom practice.
In short, we need tools to support teachers to integrate DiscoverDesign into their current classroom teaching.
Project Portfolio
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sample works
Transforming DiscoverDesign into an Open-Source Learning Lab
CAF transformed DiscoverDesign.org into an open-source cooperative learning lab for design thinking and online mentorship through investments in: new content; diversified audiences; a more robust, flexible platform; and strategic partnerships.
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tools
DiscoverDesign.org
DiscoverDesign is an online platform where students, teachers, and mentors come together to design solutions for real-world challenges.
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documentation
DiscoverDesign Evaluation Report_FINAL
The following evaluation is a high-level synthesis and assessment of the quantitative and qualitative data to provide a first-time ‘baseline’ picture of activity on the DiscoverDesign platform.
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documentation
DiscoverDesign Teacher Toolkit Insights
In May 2017, the DiscoverDesign team reached out to 19 teachers who had registered on the website before relaunch in September 2016, and qualified as Active Users. Of those contacted, the team was able to schedule interviews with a group of teachers interested in incorporating Design Process in their classrooms.
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documentation
Design Challenge Remix Examples
In our interviews we found that teachers wanted examples of remixed challenges. These are a first draft of annotated examples of remixed challenges.
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documentation
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tools
Design Challenge Remix Guide
Turning curriculum into design challenges can feel like a difficult task, but in most cases it simply involves reframing the content you might normally teach. Think about the following questions when creating a design challenge:
- What real-world context does this content apply to? (e.g. Advertising, politics, engineering)
- What job/career/real-world task uses these skills? (e.g. graphic designer, marketing professional, civil engineer, journalist)
- What 21st Century Skills/competencies do you want your students to build? (e.g. collaboration, giving/receiving feedback, ability to iterate)
This table provides guiding questions for each section of the Design Process.
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teaching resources
Design Process Alignment Matrix
This is a matrix that aligns the design process to existing frameworks (MHA Labs 21st Century Skills, CPS REACH Framework, ISTE Standards, NGSS Standards, and IB Design Cycle)
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teaching resources
CTE Summer Institute Presentation
In August of 2017, CAF and Convergence presented DiscoverDesign as a tool for incorporating Design Process into the classroom. In attendance were CTE teachers from across CPS.
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