Performance character

Designing creative solutions in the classroom should start with involving students, students’ families, and teaching teams in the process of design. Drawing on these diverse perspectives in addressing a classroom-based challenge or curricular topic in this “human-centered” approach will not only help students learn about the process of design, but will also increase their engagement and sense of agency over their own learning and environment. Collaborating in teams, teachers engage in a human-centered design approach to generating creative ideas when they dialogue around ways to tackle challenges in their classrooms or schools, making sure to start by taking the perspectives of students and students’ families.

Designing creative solutions at a systems level requires a willingness to reach across organizational silos (Practice I1) and do the often difficult work of engaging in a broad range of perspectives, identifying shared values and goals (Practice M1), and working to truly understand the problem and context (Practice C1). Building an organization that is comfortable with—or at least open to—this kind of approach to innovation can take time. Leaders may want to start with smaller-scale projects and involve individuals who can become advocates for Principled Innovation. Taking the time to establish an inclusive internal culture, where risk-taking is rewarded and collaboration is the norm, will go a long way to support a creative environment.