This course will introduce participants to the Design Thinking process as a platform for innovation. Participants will be immersed in a proven, five-step rapid iteration process that will help to quickly develop and test innovative ideas. This course will provide a comprehensive understanding of how to use the Design Thinking process to create human-centered solutions, which will foster the opportunity for more creativity and collaboration.
The Reinventing Remote Education Ventures (RREV) initiative is putting Maine educators on the forefront of cutting-edge innovation!
In 2021, the Maine Department of Education was awarded $16.9 million to support and develop projects which will strengthen a culture of innovation in PK-12 education. RREV is designed to foster innovative mindsets, creativity, and the deep empathy that is endemic to all Educators. RREV is a catalyst for educators to develop the tools to design pilots which initiate systems-level change in their districts and communities. RREV will provide statewide resources and supports through professional development, coursework, and guided engagement with effective use of design processes to empower educators and school leaders as authentic research and development professionals.
Course Outcomes |
Standards |
Demonstrate an understanding of the design thinking process | InTASC Standard: 8,9 PSEL Standard: 1, 10 |
Apply effective empathy-building techniques through evidence-based research, observation, and interviewing | InTASC Standard: 1, 2 PSEL Standard: 3, 10 |
Analyze and define student needs and perspectives | InTASC Standard: 1, 2 PSEL Standard: 3, 4, 10 |
Facilitate brainstorming and ideation techniques | InTASC Standard: 3, 5, 10 PSEL Standard: 5, 6, 10 |
Develop quick prototype iterations | InTASC Standard: 5, 6, 8, 9 PSEL Standard: 7, 8, 10 |
Evaluate test results and analyze design thinking as a non-linear process | InTASC Standard: 6, 7 PSEL Standard 8, 10 |
Implement the design thinking process for innovation and human-centered problem-solving in education | InTASC Standard: 3, 5, 7, 8 PSEL Standard: 1, 3, 4, 10 |
Develop, finalize, and submit an Innovative Pilot for RREV | InTASC Standard : 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 PSEL Standard: 10 |
The discussion topics will provide an opportunity to share content and ideas, as well as exchange feedback in this course. You will post a response to a prompt presented in the weekly whole class discussion forum. Initial posts must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on Wednesday of each week (Week 1 exception: initial post is due on Friday); second posts must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on Sunday of each week.
There are written assignments throughout the course. Each assignment asks you to synthesize the course readings and relate the course studies to your work.
EDU 650 is one of the Innovative Mindset and Pilot Development courses being offered through several of Maine’s institutions of higher education. The RREV project uses a consistent template for the creation of all future pilots.
You will complete each section of the RREV Innovative Pilot throughout the eight-week course. The complete provided template will be revised and submitted at the end of Week 8. See the schedule below for details on the due dates for each piece of the pilot development. Throughout this course, students will apply the design thinking process to develop each of the required Innovative Pilot sections:
RREV Pilot Development | Deadline |
Scheduled call with faculty | Proof of scheduled call due by end of Week 2 |
Section 1 | Week 3 |
Section 2 | Week 5 |
Section 3 D | Week 6 |
Section 4 | Week 6 |
Section 3 A, B & C | Week 7 |
All Sections Revised and Complete Pilot | Week 8 |
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Assignments | Points | Percent of Final Grade |
---|---|---|
Weekly Discussions (8 @ 3 points each; Week 1 introduction @ 1 point) | 25 | 25% |
Written Assignments (5 @ 5 points each) | 25 | 25% |
Scheduled One-on-One Call | 5 | 5% |
Paper Tower Challenge | 5 | 5% |
Individual RREV Sections (4 @ 5 points each) | 20 | 20% |
Final RREV Pilot | 20 | 20% |
Total | 100 | 100% |
Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Week 1: Jan 5 – Jan 9
Week 2: Jan 10 – Jan 16
Week 3: Jan 17 – Jan 23
Week 4: Jan 24 – Jan 30
Week 5: Jan 31 – Feb 6
Week 6: Feb 7 – Feb 13
Week 7: Feb 14 – Feb 20
Week 8: Feb 21 – Feb 27
Course Week |
Learning Outcomes |
Activities & Assignments |
Due Dates |
---|---|---|---|
Week 1: Introduction to the Design Thinking Process
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Week 1 Discussions
Week 1 Assignments
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Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Friday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
Week 2: Building Empathy
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Week 2 Discussion
Week 2 Assignment
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Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
Week 3: Defining Needs and Ideation |
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Week 3 Discussion
Week 3 Assignments
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Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
Week 4: Brainstorming and the “How Might We?” Technique |
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Week 4 Discussion
Week 4 Assignment
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Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
Week 5: Prototype and Quick Iterations |
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Week 5 Discussion
Week 5 Assignment
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Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
Week 6: Testing, Evaluation, and Re-design |
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Week 6 Discussion
Week 6 Assignment
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Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
Week 7: Design Thinking for Educational Innovation |
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Week 7 Discussion
Week 7 Assignment
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Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
Week 8: Developing and Finalizing an Innovative Pilot |
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Week 8 Discussion
Week 8 Assignment
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Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
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