ABSTRACT
Design thinking has often been used by the learning sciences to better educational programs, as applying the metacognitive process of design improves classroom and course learnings. Using a design thinking approach to frame and respond to current challenges in the education sector overall, however, is less common. This chapter begins by taking a step back from the classroom to explore the use of design as a strategic response to change within the tertiary education sector – to explore the use of design in relation to the creation of a new education ecosystem. This exploration will include the use of design to create teaching and learning interactions through to the experiences of future students and teachers to meet emerging needs and challenges of the institution. This case study will be described and detailed along with the expert sidebar from Tom Key the then General Manager for TAFE NSW, Australia. Building upon this the concept of the ecology of learning is then presented, where design thinking has been used to develop better learning experiences in fields outside design. This is explained through the case study of designing learning experiences in the Australian Defence Force.
