You for Youth | STEAM 1
Design Thinking Framework: Project Planning Template
Use this framework as you plan how to guide students through the five stages of the design
thinking process. This page gives common facilitator and student actions at each step. You can use
the template on the next page to develop a framework that’s tailored to your specific project.
Facilitator and Student Actions
Step Facilitator Actions Student Actions
Introduce the general topic and help Identify one or more problems or issues related
students connect it to their personal to the topic.
Empathize experiences. Research the problem or issue by doing online or
Research Explain “market research” as the first library research.
users’ needs. step in design thinking. Research users’ needs by reviewing available
Give students access to data collection information and collecting data on users’ needs.
tools and processes.
Ask open-ended questions. Analyze and synthesize the information collected
Guide students to use the “five whys” in the Empathize step.
technique to identify the root cause of Use the “five whys” questioning technique to
Define
the problem. identify the root cause of the problem.
State users’
Provide feedback as students develop a Write a clear needs statement.
needs.
clear needs statement. Make sure the needs statement is based on data,
not on assumptions or biases.
Guide students as they analyze and Use the root problem and needs statement
Ideate
synthesize the information they’ve developed in the Define step to brainstorm
Brainstorm
collected on users’ needs. possible solutions.
possible
Guide students through solutions to the Conduct additional research if needed.
solutions.
root problem
Provide initial feedback on prototype Identify which solution you’ll develop.
feasibility. Draw and design the prototype.
Prototype
Provide materials. Determine and collect needed materials.
Create
Monitor progress, ask guiding Build the prototype.
solutions.
questions and provide support.
Help set testing parameters and safety Describe the testing parameters and safety
measures. measures.
Monitor testing, ask guiding questions Outline the steps for testing.
Test, Refine,
and provide support. Decide on the measures of success.
Repeat
Guide students to continue refining Determine the data to be collected.
Try out
their solution if testing reveals a design Run tests.
solutions.
flaw. Record observations and results.
Provide feedback and encouragement. Collaborate to decide if refinements are needed
and, if so, what to try next.
“The greatest sign of success for a teacher is to be able to say
‘The children are now working as if I did not exist.’”
Maria Montessori
This resource is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. This resource was
funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 2020 under contract number ED-ESE-14-D-0008. The views
expressed here are not necessarily those of the Department. Learn more about professional development planning
and 21st CCLC learning at [Link]
You for Youth | STEAM 2
Design Thinking Framework: Project Planning Template
This resource is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. This resource was
funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 2020 under contract number ED-ESE-14-D-0008. The views
expressed here are not necessarily those of the Department. Learn more about professional development planning
and 21st CCLC learning at [Link]
You for Youth | STEAM 3
Design Thinking Framework: Project Planning Template
Design Thinking Framework Template
Step Facilitator Actions Student Actions
Empathize
Research
users’ needs.
Define
State users’
needs.
Ideate
Brainstorm
possible
solutions.
Prototype
Create
solutions.
Test,
Refine,
Repeat
Try out
solutions.
This resource is in the public domain. Authorization to reproduce it in whole or in part is granted. This resource was
funded by the U.S. Department of Education in 2020 under contract number ED-ESE-14-D-0008. The views
expressed here are not necessarily those of the Department. Learn more about professional development planning
and 21st CCLC learning at [Link]
