Design Thinking for Personal Change: Pilot Course
Brought to you by the Change Science Institute in collaboration with Hasso Plattner d-school AFRIKA at the University of Cape Town
Course Purpose (Big Idea)
The big idea of this course is to navigate personal change in one’s life by practically experimenting and learning while using the approaches and mindsets of a design thinker. What we hope will result from this is that you - at least a less-fixed version of you that is more fit for purpose - will feel more ready and fitter as you move through change in your life.
Course Layout
There are four modules in this course, delivered over four weeks:
Module 1: Introduction to Design Thinking and Defining a Personal Design Challenge
Module 2: Develop Empathy and Conduct and Expert Interview
Module 3: Reframe the Learning as a Design Opportunity
Module 4: Reflect on Change from Initial Challenge
Learning Objectives
The learning objectives linked to the modules of this course is to:
Identify a change currently in life or work.
Use design thinking tools (empathy and reframing) to look at the change challenge in a new way.
Come up with a small, practical action to take forward.
Reflect on learning, mindset and approach to change.
Learning Outcomes
The following learning outcomes are associated with this course as set out per live session and/or module.
Module 1: Framing the change challenge
After completion of this module, participants will be able to:
Articulate a personal change into a design challenge
Live Kick-off Session (midway in week 1)
After attending this kick-off session, participants will have:
An overview on how to use Design Thinking for Personal Change
An overview of the: ○ online learning community;
- learning platforms associated with this course;
- learning journey ahead and first task.
Module 2: Empathise and Explore
After completion of this module, participants will be able to:
Build empathy with themselves and others
Engage in an empathic interview
Module 3: Reframe and Ideate
After completion of this module, participants will be able to:
Reframe what they have uncovered into a few “How might I…?” questions
Generate small, low-stakes learning experiments
Engage in a micro experiment
Module 4: Prototype an Action
After completion of this module, participants will be able to:
Log what they learned from the experiments
Create an action plan of micro steps and markers of success
Live Reflection & Wrap-Up Session (Friday of week 4)
After attending this wrap-up session, participants will be able to:
Reflect and make meaning of this learning experience and what shifted for them
Reflect and participate in feedback with the learning community on final take aways
Call to action after landing page
Save the date for live session.