On Friday, September 18th, DesignPhiladelphia's Design Education program mentored K-12 teachers on how to bring design thinking into their classrooms. Led by Michael Spain, Liza Niles, and Mia Rosencraft, the session walked educators through what design thinking actually is: a student-centered approach to 21st-century learning built on growth mindset and real-world problem-solving. Teachers explored how STEM differs from traditional instruction through inquiry-based and experiential learning. The team connected these ideas across subjects, and teachers left with a working knowledge of the six-stage design thinking process and a sense of their own role in guiding students through it. The Design Education team hopes to continue with these coaching sessions during future Professional Development days. 

The session reflected what DesignPhiladelphia's Design Education program set out to do: empower K-12 students to solve complex problems creatively and think critically about the world around them. As Philadelphia's communities grow more diverse, the need for confident, well-rounded designers grows with them. This professional development training session gave teachers the tools to foster that growth in their own classrooms. By mentoring educators on integrating creative expression with core technical learning, DesignPhiladelphia strengthened its commitment to an inclusive, K-through-career design community.