Instructional Deck

Slide Deck for This Module

📑 Prefer the offline version? The full 20-slide deck is also available as module1_framework.pptx.

Watch

Introduction to Design Thinking

An open-source video from MIT introducing design thinking and why it starts with real people, not quick guesses. — Watch on YouTube →

Hands-On Practice

Small Group Exercise

⏱ 20–30 minutes 👥 Groups of 3–4

Frame a Problem in 20 Minutes

This activity lets your group try all three phases of the framework in miniature, using a problem from your own school or community.

Materials

Sticky notes or index cards
Markers
A timer

Steps

Empathy (5 min): As a group, list 5 things that bug you or people around you during a normal school day.
Frame (3 min): Pick one and turn it into a “How might we...?” question.
Define (3 min): Write one sentence: “[Person] needs a way to [need] because [reason].”
Ideate (5 min): Brainstorm at least 8 possible ideas — no judging allowed yet.
Pitch (4 min): Pick your group's favorite idea and explain it to another group in one minute.

Debrief Prompt

Which phase felt hardest for your group — Empathy, Ideate, or Pitch — and why do you think that is?

Knowledge Check

10-Question Quiz

School Name

Student Name

Teacher Name

Please enter your school, your name, and your teacher's name before submitting.

Answer all 10 questions, then submit for your score.

Question 1 of 10

What are the three phases of the design thinking framework?

Plan, Do, Check Empathy, Ideate, Pitch Research, Build, Ship Frame, Test, Launch

This framework has three phases: Empathy, Ideate, and Pitch.

Question 2 of 10

Which step's guiding question is “Who is the user?”

Frame Empathize Define Prototype

Empathize is about understanding the needs of the person you're designing for.

Question 3 of 10

Which step's guiding question is “How might we...?”

Frame Ideate Pitch Launch

Frame opens up a problem with a “How might we...?” question.

Question 4 of 10

Which two groups are famous for helping make design thinking popular?

NASA and the U.S. Treasury IDEO and Stanford's d.school Harvard and MIT Apple and Google

IDEO, a design company, and Stanford's d.school helped make this way of thinking popular.

Question 5 of 10

“Opening up ideas” (divergent thinking) means:

Picking just one idea right away Coming up with lots of ideas without judging them yet Writing the final plan Testing a finished idea

Opening up ideas means coming up with as many as you can before picking one.

Question 6 of 10

Which statement is true about how the process moves?

It always moves in one straight line It loops back — teams often return to earlier steps It skips getting to know the user It stops the moment you build something

Design thinking loops back — teams often revisit earlier steps as they learn more.

Question 7 of 10

Which two steps make up the Ideate phase?

Frame and Define Ideate and Prototype Pitch and Launch Empathize and Define

The Ideate phase contains the Ideate and Prototype steps.

Question 8 of 10

“Choosing the best idea” (convergent thinking) means:

Coming up with more and more ideas Looking at your ideas and picking the strongest one Skipping testing with real people Ignoring feedback

Choosing the best idea means picking the strongest one after coming up with many ideas.

Question 9 of 10

Which skills matter most during the Pitch phase?

Curiosity and watching closely Paying attention to detail and explaining clearly Only building skills Just knowing facts

The Pitch phase uses paying attention to detail, not giving up, and clear communication.

Question 10 of 10

True or False: Only artists and designers can use design thinking.

True False

False — anyone can learn and use design thinking, not just artists or designers.