Using Design Thinking to Redesign the Educational Experience

Abstract

In a world that is ever changing and full of uncertainties, there is an undeniable need to equip students with competencies that exceed cognitive knowledge, thus enabling them to develop their individual potentials. Using case study methodology, Design Thinking and ProblemBased Learning, this paper presents a program that brought together students and teachers from different faculties with the purpose of developing innovative solutions to important and pressing societal challenges. Given the unprecedented context generated by the worldwide spread of SARS–COV2 Virus, the program challenged students to find solutions to redesign the educational process. The aim was to equip them with the skills and competencies necessary to adapt in a globalized world, where remote work with team members from different backgrounds is the norm. The Problem-Based Learning approach and the visually attractive collaborative online platform used to implement the Design Thinking methodology generated an overall increased student engagement and creative solutions for wicked problems.