01
Welcome to Design Thinking
What problems feel worth solving? The 5 stages overview (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test). Warm-up: “design a better schoolbag” exercise on paper.
Module 1 — Foundations
Set up the mindset: what is design thinking, what is AI, and how they work together.
02
What is AI (without math)?
AI vs. machine learning vs. generative AI — explained with everyday examples. What AI is good at, what it’s not, and why humans stay in the loop.
03
Your AI toolbelt
Guided tour of no-code AI: chat assistant, image generator, voice/speech tools. Safe-use rules, account setup with parental consent, and a shared class charter.
04
Creative confidence & growth mindset
Fast sketching games: 30 circles, “I like / I wish / What if.” Why wrong answers are useful data, and why iteration beats perfection.
05
Choosing a challenge
Pick a theme: school life, environment, accessibility, community, well-being. Form teams; each team picks one human group whose life they want to improve.
Module 2 — Empathize
Understand the people you’re designing for before deciding what to build.
06
The art of observation
How designers watch without judging. “Shadow” exercise: silently observe a real routine (canteen, classroom, bus stop) and capture surprises.
07
Empathy interviews 101
Open vs. leading questions; the 5 Whys; capturing quotes verbatim. Students write their first interview script.
08
AI as a research buddy
Use a chat assistant to brainstorm interview questions, summarise notes, and flag possible biases. Rule: AI drafts, humans decide.
09
Field day (in & around school)
Teams run 3 short interviews with consent; collect photos/notes. Safe, age-appropriate scripts and chaperone guidance provided.
10
Empathy maps & personas
Build a says / thinks / does / feels empathy map. Use AI to suggest a persona description; students edit it to reflect what they actually heard.
Module 3 — Define
Turn messy findings into a sharp, human problem statement.
11
Spotting patterns
Affinity mapping with sticky notes. Quotes → themes. How to resist “jumping to a solution.”
12
Needs, insights, and the “why”
Separate what users said from what they really need. Use AI to paraphrase interview notes; students accept/reject each suggestion.
13
Crafting a problem statement
POV template: “[User] needs [need] because [insight].” Rewriting until it’s specific, human, and actionable.
14
How Might We questions
Convert problem statements to several HMW questions. Peer critique round with a “too broad / too narrow / just right” check.
Module 4 — Ideate
Generate many ideas, then pick the ones worth prototyping.
15
Rules of great brainstorming
Defer judgement, build on ideas, go for volume, encourage wild ideas. Warm-up game: “bad ideas first.”
16
Divergent thinking with AI
Use a chat assistant as an “idea machine.” Prompt recipes: “give me 20 ideas for…”, “reframe this idea for a younger user.” Students compare AI vs. human ideas.
17
SCAMPER & analogies
Classic creative techniques: Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to another use, Eliminate, Reverse. Cross-domain inspiration exercise.
18
From ideas to concepts
Cluster similar ideas; pick top 3 concepts per team. Quick “concept posters” with title, user, and main benefit.
19
Choosing what to prototype
Feasibility / desirability / impact grid. Decide on one idea to take forward and write a clear prototype goal.
Module 5 — Prototype
Make the idea real enough to show and test — using everyday materials and AI helpers.
20
What is a prototype?
Low vs. high fidelity; paper, cardboard, roleplay, storyboards, digital mock-ups. The question a prototype should answer.
21
Storyboarding the experience
Draw a 6-frame user journey: before, during, after. Capture emotions and key moments.
22
AI image generation for visuals
Intro to an image-generation tool. Craft good prompts; generate concept art, product mock-ups, and storyboard panels. Discuss copyright & attribution basics.
23
Voice, chat & simple no-code apps
Simulate a smart assistant or service using a chat tool and/or a no-code app builder. Wizard-of-Oz technique: humans play the AI behind the scenes.
24
Build day
Teams assemble their prototype with paper, props, slides, or no-code mock-ups. Class coaches circulate with questions, not answers.
Module 6 — Test & Iterate
Put the prototype in front of real users, listen, and improve.
25
Planning a usability test
Define test goals; write a short test script; pick users similar to your persona; set up a feedback form.
26
Test day
Each team tests with 3–5 real users. One student facilitates, one takes notes. Stay curious; don’t defend the prototype.
27
Synthesise & iterate
What worked / what didn’t / surprises / next steps. Use AI to summarise feedback themes — students verify accuracy — then plan the v2 changes.
Module 7 — Showcase & Reflect
Tell a clear story, present with confidence, and reflect on how AI changed your process.
28
Storytelling for presentations
Structure: user → problem → insight → idea → prototype → what we learned. Build slides with AI assistance; keep the message human.
29
Dress rehearsal & feedback
Practice pitches; peer feedback using a structured rubric (clarity, evidence, creativity, ethics, impact).
30
Showcase & reflection
Teams present to parents and mentors. Closing reflection: how did AI help? Where did you overrule it? What will you design next?
What students leave with
- A real prototype, tested with real users.
- A portfolio write-up with visuals and a short video.
- A personal toolkit of AI prompts and workflows.
- Confidence to speak about design, research, and ethics.
- Clear sense of when to trust AI and when to push back.
- Habits for lifelong creative problem-solving.
Want this course for your school or club? Let’s talk.
Contact us