Design brings a unique, people-centered lens to STEAM learning by focusing on the needs, experiences, and communities behind real-world civic challenges. Before students generate solutions, they benefit from building core skills like observation, empathy, and collaboration. Design 101 is an asynchronous toolkit of quick, hands-on activities that develop these foundations while strengthening creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Designed to integrate seamlessly with existing lessons, it helps educators guide students in designing meaningful, community-connected solutions. Participants will explore adaptable classroom strategies and examples from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Collection that bring civic issues to life through design.
Kirsten McNally, Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
