Design Thinking/Critical Thinking
Application of content standard related learning to real world situations allows students to become creative problem solvers and flexible thinkers. Design thinkers creatively produce solutions in predictable and unpredictable situations by improving products with a focus on the end user’s needs.
The Radioactive Comics and Games project is a great example of design thinking in action. Participants follow a design process to develop a comic story or a tabletop game that incorporates the science concept of radiation and the math concept of probability. A central component of the project is prototyping - a process of developing imperfect products again and again, with feedback from users that helps the designers develop the next version. By presenting a current version of their work, learners can eliminate misconceptions or get a new direction for further work. For instance, many learners developed a more realistic portrayal of the effects of radiation on the human body because of feedback they received in the prototyping process. Learners reported that following the design process resulted in much better final products than what they might otherwise have created.