The big idea throughout this module was around designing with intent. This idea lead me to consider “what is my intent when I enter a classroom?” Is it to engage students in 21st century learning competencies, is it to work collaboratively with a classroom teacher, am I there to teach something new to students? Design with intent brings focus to the goals and objectives. During the development of a new space, whether it be a learning commons/library or classroom, the designer needs to consider “what is the intent of the learning space?” Is it to reduce barriers, increase access to technology, embed 21st century learning competencies into the classroom, support student achievement and wellbeing?

Another key concept that stuck with me was the idea of design with the human experience as the focus. Brown calls it “putting people first”. ” Rather than asking designers to make an already developed idea more attractive to consumers, companies are asking them to create ideas that better meet consumers’ needs and desires ” (Brown, 2008) If students are our consumers, do we as teachers consider their human experience each time they enter the school? Do we develop relationships with our students, do we greet them by name, do we foster a safe learning environment to create a space where students are ready to learn? If we consider the students human experience each time they enter the school we are developing a space with a focus on the human experience.As a designer of learning spaces, my intent is to meet the needs of students. What are their desires for a learning space, what do they need in their learning space to reach their full potential.

My final thought for this module is that designers need to have a growth mindset towards design implementation; designers need to have a positive attitude towards innovation and continue designing until the desired goal is attained. The intial design may not work, it may not meet all students needs, but learn from it and try again.

Reference

Brown, T. (2008). Design thinking, Harvard Business Review, 86(6), 84-92. Retrieved from: http://hbr.org/2008/06/design-thinking/