UndergradSkiller: Skill Set Map for Undergraduates and Their Educators

CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING: Problem-Solving and Design Thinking

Design Thinking

Design thinking is a human-centered approach to innovation and problem-solving that emphasizes empathy, experimentation, and iterative prototyping. Originally developed in design disciplines, it is now widely applied across fields.

Useful Resources on Design Thinking:

IBM SkillsBuild. (n.d.). Design thinking. https://skillsbuild.org/students/course-catalog/design-thinking

Annotation: Collection of free learning resources on design thinking from IBM SkillsBuild. Includes introductory learning activities, a short overview video, and a 3-hour Enterprise Design Thinking Practitioner course.

The Open University. (2018, December 5). Design thinking. https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/design-innovation/design-thinking

Annotation: Free self-paced course from The Open University introducing design thinking as a structured approach to creative problem-solving. Covers principles of composition, visual literacy, and the application of design thinking across contexts from the personal to the global. Includes interactive activities.

Stanford d.school. (n.d.). Getting unstuck. https://dschool.stanford.edu/tools/getting-unstuck

Annotation: Self-paced guided audio experience from Stanford's d.school, designed to help individuals reframe challenges and find fresh perspectives. Participants go outdoors with earbuds and a notebook, following audio prompts that guide reflection and observation.

Peer Review: None

Table of contents:

3.1. Critical Thinking
3.1.1. Introductions to Critical Thinking
3.1.2. Developing Thinking Skills

3.2. Critical Reading and Analysis

3.3. Analysis and Argumentation

3.4. Critical Reasoning

3.5. Synthesis

3.6. Problem-Solving and Design Thinking
3.6.1. Problem-Solving

3.6.2. Design Thinking

3.7. Research Methods
3.7.1. Research Design
3.7.2. Research Ethics

3.8. Data Literacy
3.8.1. Understanding Data
3.8.2. Computational Thinking
3.8.3. Statistical and Numerical Analysis

3.9. Curiosity and Creative Thinking
3.9.1. Creative Exercises
3.9.2. Understanding Curiosity

 

Author: Leeanne Irwin

Peer Reviewer(s): None