Phase I: Idea Generation

Being successful in today’s highly technological and globally competitive world requires a person to develop and use a different set of skills that were once needed before. One of these skills is called design thinking. Many of my students view science, technology, engineering and math as isolated subjects with no real world applications.  My ImagineIT idea originates from my students’ misunderstanding and the realization that STEM is a part of their daily lives. Throughout the next year, I want my students’ to experience the design thinking learning process and to redefine what they think is possible. Through design, my students will learn that they have the power to change the world. Design Thinking is an approach to learning that focuses on developing students’ creative confidence. Students will engage in hands-on design challenges that focus on developing empathy, promoting a bias toward action, encouraging ideation, developing metacognitive awareness and fostering active problem solving.

All photos were taken at the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago, Illinois. Each picture represents a tool, a design, or a way of thinking in the design thinking process. I used the iPad app, PicShop HD – Photo Editor to manipulate the photos.

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My ImagineIT video focuses on the idea that design is everywhere and all we need to do is change our way of thinking. The world is full of problems ready to be tackled with solutions. If students' can "dream it" they can "make it." The first part of the video is a call for action, to get people to think what does it mean to design, what inspires us, and what can we create. The second part of the video is a trailer for what I will accomplish in my classroom this next school year. I am calling my students the dream Makers. If you can "Dream it, you can Make it."

Tech Notes: All photos were created in Pixlr. Video was created and edited in Animoto & iMovie.