Abstract:

The design thinking process is an innovative instructional approach that provides a rational problem-solving style. This paper reports an inventive STEAM-based course that integrates the design to empower students' problem-solving and creative skills and ignite their innovation. This course was offered to 61 students. The findings of the study demonstrate that after taking this course, students' confidence and ability for innovation increased significantly. This is confirmed by their performance in pre- and post-questionnaire outcomes and handouts. The students’ performances in tasks and feedback from the students and the facilitators showed that they had improved their ability for creativity and problem-solving. A strength, weakness, opportunity, and threat (SWOT) analysis has conclusively shown that the skills have been successfully used through the design thinking approach. The outcomes indicate the success of our unique STEM learning model using a design thinking approach in empowering students with creative skills to solve problems. The study also shows how important it is for design educators to utilize the Design Thinking approach strategy to synergistically integrate problem-solving and motivation for creativity.

Keywords:

Design thinking, Problem-solving, STEAM-based, Creative skills, Innovation, Project-based, Prototypes.