TeachersFirst's Design Thinking
Design thinking focuses more on understanding problems and developing creative solutions for people than on implementing generic solutions. Design thinking goes through phases of collecting feedback and data, using the data to identify the problems to be solved, developing prototypes, and testing solutions. Feedback from key stakeholders should be used often. The above phases are iterative and cyclical, using feedback and changing the design to solve the problem. In design thinking, failure isn't an end, it's an opportunity to refine and create something better. Design thinking focuses on divergent thinking -- generating and exploring as many ideas as possible before narrowing down to a solution.

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Fashion Design - Parsons School of Design via Coursera
Grades
8 to 12tag(s): careers (156), design (79), fashion (12), Online Learning (36)
In the Classroom
Share this course with students interested in fashion design to get a feel for the industry and the type of courses needed to get involved in the fashion industry. Include the course as part of a project-based learning assignment and ask students to share their learning with peers when finished. Have students use a 3-D design program such as Tinkercad, reviewed here, to create original designs. As a final project, ask students to create and share a portfolio using bulb, reviewed here, or another website creator that includes templates for showcasing their designs.Wix Education - Wix
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): business (52), computers (109), design (79), Online Learning (36), STEM (297), tutorials (52)
In the Classroom
Include lessons from Wix Education as part of any lessons for learning about web design. Although the activities are designed specifically for use with the Wix website (not free) the principles and activities apply to any web creation product. Share with students interested in web design to complete an independent project or as part of an after-school program. Extend learning by asking students to share their new talent by designing websites for your classroom or different needs within the school.Method of Action - Method Draw - Mark MacKay
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): design (79), graphic design (49), vectors (16)
In the Classroom
Share this site with students to use as they learn about vector design basics and creating games. It is also useful for a computer center activity for any student to learn about color basics and using a mouse to create shapes and objects. Ask students to create screen recordings using Free Online Screen Recorder, reviewed here, to demonstrate how to use design techniques and color harmonies to create objects to use in games or websites. Have students apply their learning by including their designs within games they create using Scratch, reviewed here.Earth School - TEDEd
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): agriculture (49), climate (84), climate change (99), design (79), forests (30), oceans (149), recycling (46), remote learning (54), solar energy (34), STEM (297), Teacher Utilities (198), water (102)
In the Classroom
Bookmark this site as a resource for science and nature lessons to supplement current materials in your classroom. Because lessons were created for use in remote learning situations, they are perfect for including during elearning or digital learning days. Create an account and customize lessons to personalize activities to fit your curriculum and students. For example, customize lessons easily to change discussion questions to adapt to student abilities, then share the differentiated lessons to different groups of students. Extend learning by adding links to additional activities such as asking students to write a short blog post using edublogs, reviewed here, or create a cartoon based on the activity's content using ToonyTool, reviewed here. Extend learning for all students using Spotify for Podcastors, reviewed here. Begin by creating a discussion question, then share the topic with students. An idea would be to have small groups of students hold a podcast "conversation" about the topic.MIT Full STEAM Ahead - MIT
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): design (79), diseases (67), earth (184), engineering (129), game based learning (205), inventors and inventions (80), makerspace (40), sounds (43), space (222), STEM (297)
In the Classroom
As students participate in the activities and lessons shared on this site, utilize the many features of Google Documents or Microsoft Word to gather information, and collaborate with peers. Use spreadsheet tools to record findings and create graphs to evaluate the results of experiments. Engage students in the learning process by adding questions and comments to the videos in the learning packages using edpuzzle, reviewed here. Ask students to use Sway, reviewed here, to share the products of their learning activities. Add text, images, videos, and more to create multimedia presentations. Use the learning packages to find activities and resources to incorporate into your current learning units. Be sure to check out the interactives (games) that focus on problem-solving and collaboration skills.Babble Dabble Do - Ana Dziengel
Grades
K to 6This site includes advertising.
tag(s): crafts (64), design (79), engineering (129), makerspace (40), STEM (297)
In the Classroom
Be sure to add this to your toolbox of ideas for teaching STEAM topics and for ideas to use in classroom makerspaces. In addition to adding this site to your favorite bookmarks, consider creating a board on Pinterest, reviewed here, of sites with ideas for STEAM projects. Share the board with your peers and collaborate on adding STEAM sites as a group. Extend learning throughout and after project activities as you include student work as part of a portfolio on Seesaw, reviewed here. Seesaw offers tools for all ages of students to create digital portfolios including written or audio reflections on work. Instead of just sharing images of student creations on your Facebook page or school web page, help students enhance their learning by creating digital books using WriteReader, reviewed here, to share online for family and friends. WriteReader is a site specially created for use with younger students to share their writing and images.STEAM Art Lessons - Tricia Fuglestad
Grades
K to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): black history (133), coding (85), creativity (86), digital storytelling (154), dr seuss (12), drawing (61), environment (252), graphic design (49), great depression (30), literacy (122), nutrition (140), photography (130), poetry (193), problem solving (233), qr codes (18), read across america (9), STEM (297), stories and storytelling (58), symmetry (27)
In the Classroom
If you feel that you are strong in the arts but not technology (or the other way around), find a teaching partner that complements your strength and work together to teach lessons from this site. Use ideas from here in your classroom makerspace. Use Wakelet, reviewed here, to add notes and questions as you prepare to teach lessons from this blog. Wakelet offers the ability to collaborate and share with others through the addition of written and audio notes to any web page. Use lesson activities found on this site as a replacement for traditional research projects, book reports, or written reports. Have students use a blogging tool like edublog, reviewed here, to share images and videos of their work from start to finish and to reflect upon learning. Have older students extend learning through the use of Canvas LMS, reviewed here. Ask them to research and find additional information on the topic of your lesson and create a learning path for other students to complete. For younger students, create a Symbaloo Learning Path for students to complete as a center activity to complement your STEAM learning activities.Design Wizard - Design Wizard
Grades
K to 12tag(s): design (79), graphic design (49), images (263), social media (48)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many features included with Design Wizard to upload and edit images. Have students use their images to create book covers instead of assigning a traditional book report. As students learn about advertiser tactics, use the ad template and have students create truthful advertisements for products. Create flyers to invite parents to school programs. Ask students to create a flyer that might have been used to invite others to a historical event. The possibilities are as endless as you and your students' imaginations.DesignEvo Free Online Logo Maker - DesignEvo
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): design (79), drawing (61), graphic design (49), images (263)
In the Classroom
Use this site as part of any graphic design or art class to learn about the use of color, text, or design. Have students design a logo for your classroom or school, then use a different logo each month on your class website, newsletter, or any classroom communications. Have students design a logo for a book character to use on their "pretend" business card. Ask students to create their own personal logo for use on a business card. The possibilities are never-ending!NEXT.cc - NEXT.cc
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): aeronautics (11), alphabet (53), animals (295), animation (65), architecture (75), biomes (110), coding (85), design (79), electricity (61), energy (133), habitats (92), light (56), numbers (120), plants (146), time (91), weather (160)
In the Classroom
Share this site on classroom computers, on an interactive whiteboard, or with a projector to explore together. Include this site as part of your bookmarks for lessons in design, science, or art using a bookmarking tool like Symbaloo, reviewed here. Many of the activities have students create online and interactive documents. Following are a few suggestions for these activities. Try MapHub, reviewed here, which uses display markers featuring text, photos, and videos! Have students create an annotated image including text boxes and related links using a tool such as Image Annotator, reviewed here, to demonstrate their understanding of a concept. Ask individual or groups of students to create a multimedia presentation sharing knowledge learned using an online tool such as Sway, reviewed here.Microsoft Visual Studio - Microsoft
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): coding (85), computers (109), design (79), logic (161), Microsoft (80), problem solving (233)
In the Classroom
Share Microsoft Visual with students interested in computer coding. Have students sign up for training that meets their interests. Transform classroom technology use by encouraging students to design apps that help fellow students and others in your school. For example, design an app for tracking assignments or an app for collaborating on school projects.Girls Garage (Project H) - Project H Design - Emily Pilloton
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): architecture (75), creativity (86), design (79), gifted (66), STEM (297)
In the Classroom
Share Project H with students as a resource for group projects or enrichment. The ideas on Project H are perfect when considering ideas for math, science, or art Fairs. Create a link on your class website for students to use at home. After completing a project, have students take a photo. Then, show them how to embed media transforming their work by uploading it to Google Drawings, reviewed here. Students can then annotate the photo with text boxes, related links, and video to explain the process of how they created their product. Not familiar with Google Drawings? Watch an archived OK2Ask session to learn how to use: OK2Ask Google Drawings, here.KidsThinkDesign - Kids Design Collaborative
Grades
4 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): animation (65), architecture (75), design (79), fashion (12), graphic design (49), makerspace (40)
In the Classroom
Share KidsThinkDesign with your school's art teacher as an excellent addition to art lessons or for ideas to use as a collaborative project. Share with students as part of career exploration activities to help them learn about the different areas of design and also try some designs on their own. After creating a design, have students upload a photo they have taken and add voice bubbles to explain what they learned using a tool such as Phrase.it, reviewed here.Technovation Families - Iridescent
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): aeronautics (11), computers (109), design (79), engineering (129), gifted (66), inventors and inventions (80), makerspace (40), oceans (149), problem solving (233), robotics (24), STEM (297)
In the Classroom
Be sure to take advantage of the free educator units offered with membership. Share project ideas with students as ideas for a school science or engineering fair. Share this site with students interested in exploring careers in science or engineering. Encourage students to enhance their technology use and learning by using a visual blogging tool such as Telegra.ph, reviewed here. With Telegra.ph you just click on an icon to upload images from your computer, add a YouTube or Vimeo, or Twitter links (no registration required), to document their progress while completing projects. Have gifted students choose projects from the site to complete as enrichment within different learning units.Ask Nature: Why Teach Biomimicry - Biomimcry Institute
Grades
10 to 12tag(s): design (79), engineering (129), STEM (297)
In the Classroom
It will be very beneficial to spend some time with the toolkit to see all that it offers. Use the resources to engage students in content that would otherwise be considered dull to some students. Use the lessons to change from teacher-led information about topics to research-driven student investigations. Use the lessons to provide a vital connection students need to the natural world that is becoming increasingly lost with each generation. Find simple activities found on the Core Concepts pages. Each section has articles and other resources for better understanding. Many of the resources encourage questioning, the creation of ideas, and formation of solutions. Other resources (such as in the Core Concepts), encourage students to look at nature differently and understand how we are part of nature and the biodiversity on Earth. Expand many of the Patterns lessons to identify how humans have copied patterns found in nature around us and how these patterns improve our designs (ex. the shape of an egg/strength of an arch). This resource would be a wonderful extension of the classroom for motivated students, especially gifted! Include it as a challenge level during a unit on plants and other science topics for your gifted middle schoolers. Assign each group a specific concept of Biomimicry to learn and understand. Enhance student learning by having students create a simple infographic sharing their findings using Venngage, reviewed here.Squishy Circuits - AnnMarie Thomas
Grades
2 to 10tag(s): circuits (20), electricity (61)
In the Classroom
Budgets are tight and times are tough, but using these activities, we can still keep the lights on electrical engineering. Have students make the play dough in lab or make it in advance for them. Color the recipes with different food colors so that you can easily identify which recipe is which. Explain how the battery packs and indicator lights work, and then let them play with the play dough and the battery packs. Please advise students of safety hazards and caution them against putting sensors directly against the battery pack. Once they have had time to play, have them identify different circuit parts using correct electrical terminology. Challenge students to create more and use their imaginations to try different situations and scenarios. Have different groups share their findings with the class, and allow the groups to share ideas to reach even further.Evil Mad Scientist - Evil Mad Science
Grades
6 to 12This site includes advertising.
tag(s): creativity (86), inventors and inventions (80), scientific method (48), STEM (297)
In the Classroom
Inspire creativity and original thinking with Evil Mad Scientist. Use as inspiration or examples for student projects in art, science, or music, research, or applied creativity. If you share a link with students, you may want to link to a specific post or use Readability Test Tool, reviewed here, to provide a "clean view" of the post. Evaluate projects together on the IWB to help students identify characteristics of creativity and talk about how the ideas may have come to be. Use this site during a unit on scientific method so students connect the discipline of research with the creative results. What kind of experimenting took place? What principles of science? Compare the inventions available in the Shop with inventions from the Industrial Revolution. How is today a different environment for inventors (or is it?) Begin your own Evil Mad Scientist blog to feature your students' creativity or slightly irreverent ideas in a safe and school-appropriate environment, almost as an STEM graffiti wall.Chrome Experiments - Google
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): animation (65), computers (109), design (79), graphic design (49)
In the Classroom
This is a great resource for computer design and programming coursework. Each programmer has tagged their project with the name of technology they used to create their project. Consider showing examples of these technologies on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students develop their own experiment that uses Java Script and Google Chrome and then submit their work to the site. Make sure students understand not to share the link with anyone they do not trust or want contributing. Be sure to review the content in the chat session before using it with students. It is necessary to have an email in order to participate in online discussions. Read tips for safely managing email registrations here. It is essential that permissible use and consequences are set before introducing the site.Dimensions of Creativity: A Model to Analyze Student Projects - TeachersFirst
Grades
K to 12tag(s): creativity (86)
In the Classroom
Do more than simply tell your students to "be creative." Try the ideas and practical suggestions on these pages if you ask: How do I help students who struggle with "being creative" in project-based learning? How do I differentiate tools/projects to match students' varied creativity skills? How do I know that more "creative" students are moving forward, challenging their creative thinking and not simply using past "tried and true" ideas, wrapped in a little glitz? How do my students and I talk about the creativity skills they used (or did not use) in making a project?Do Try This at Home: Invention at Play - Smithsonian Museum of National History
Grades
K to 6tag(s): biographies (94), collaboration (93), creativity (86), design (79), inventors and inventions (80), problem solving (233)