Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a problem solving approach that identifies the unmet needs of a population in order to collaboratively and iteratively develop solutions. Research shows that engaging students in HCD experiences can help them develop human-centered, metacognitive, communicative, collaborative, experimental, and creative mindsets. The purpose of this half-day workshop is to provide high school and middle school chemistry teachers with resources and tools that they need to design, implement, and assess HCD activities in their chemistry classes. These activities will assist students in acquiring the chemistry content through learning about and applying the HCD processes.
The content of the workshop is based on a successful pilot of a 4-week curriculum unit that we designed and implemented, both in-person and virtually, with high school sophomores in an introductory chemistry class. The presenters will kick off the workshop with a brief description of their pilot, its learning objectives, what worked, and what did not. Then, the presenters will engage participants in hands-on activities to learn about and apply the HCD processes such as empathizing with users, defining design opportunities, brainstorming design solutions, and prototyping concepts. Next, the presenters will provide the participants with resources, scaffolding and assessment tools, that can help them engage their students in collaborative learning activities to learn and apply the HCD processes. The presenters will also introduce the participants to Miro boards – an online platform that facilitates collaborative learning between the students and provides the teacher with tools to monitor students’ collaboration and equitable participation. Then, the presenters will showcase when and how the participants can include chemistry laboratory activities that can equip students with the chemistry knowledge they need to make informed design decisions. Finally, participants will be given the opportunity to begin creating and planning for their own chemistry by design curriculum unit while asking questions and getting immediate feedback and guidance from the presenters.