MSLA 2018 Conference: Future Ready

In this workshop, participants will be introduced to the six elements of the Design Thinking Model (Empathy, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Feedback, Reflect) as put forth by the Henry Ford Learning Institute, a leader in transforming education. Design thinking engages every student giving them crucial skills they need to thrive in today’s world. Participants will hear how the Design Thinking Model has been successfully implemented in an elementary school library in grades 1, 2, and 3 using literature as a basis for character analysis, problem identification, and idea generation. Design thinking encourages wild ideas, creativity and critical analysis of group generated solutions. It provides opportunities for students to work as part of a team and allows them a hands-on, authentic learning experience.

Following an overview of the model, participants will engage in the design cycle themselves based on a reading of Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats. The presenter will lead the group through each phase of designing. The group will empathize with Peter (the main character), define his problem in the story, and work in teams to brainstorm solutions, prototype a design and get feedback on the design from peers.

The workshop will end with a reflection and time for question and answers. The presenter will offer resources for utilizing this process with a variety of texts at multiple grade levels. This exciting workshop will give school librarians a way to combine engineering ideas with a literature-based curriculum.