Design thinking is a methodology based on finding solutions and innovation focused on the human being “working and dealing with the Ministry of Education”. It is a process based on five steps: observation, visualization, modeling, testing, and implementation. In doing so, design thinking puts the people we design for at the center of the process and invites them to participate in it. The human-centered methodology is undoubtedly a firm belief that all the problems facing him, no matter how difficult and complex they may seem, can be solved, especially when the people who suffer from something are wrong themselves and must address them directly. Because it is simply the approach that puts a person and his desires at the center of priorities.
The secret of the success of design thinking is that it is a repetitive approach based on the ability of intuition and fanfare between observation and thinking on the one hand and the development of ideas on the other. It underwent a field test, which is the third step, and it is modified according to the feedback received from the user. The modeling stages are repeated several times, and it is an integral part of the completion stage of that project or initiative.
Modeling here, in short, means giving the idea of life so that we can learn from it. In other words, do not overdo the initial planning. Apply the idea on a small scale as you think and how much you think it should be, and get feedback to either move forward with your project or abandon it. Testing, everything can be tested and we can test everything that would pose a threat to our ideas and increase the risk of failure of the project or initiative. Then we move on to the next step of design thinking which is execution.
The complications and accumulations of the Iraqi invasion on the educational reality are almost similar in some way to those left by the pandemic, at least in determining the way back. So it is a good opportunity to redraw the educational scene and build its foundations again so that this opportunity is not lost in the heresy of philosophies and nonsense once again. Those in charge of the Ministry of Education can adopt the concept of “design thinking” and work on it to revive the educational heart before it stops completely.
The project may be unique, but what about its implementation? You may have a team, but does it have the required knowledge and skills? In fact, finding the appropriate solution (project or initiative) and its implementation are two different stages, and here it is imperative for those in charge of the Ministry of Education to gather the appropriate team from the various levels of its employees, and to form an action plan with stages, whose elements include a beginning, an end, and a timetable, and seek the assistance of all human resources, whatever they may be. Its job titles, the origin of design thinking is to give free rein to everyone to participate in solutions, and it is also important in the implementation stage to take note of the strategic partners and determine what is required of them accurately, and when we progress in the implementation stages, we are in a state of continuous learning, control, and refinement that enables us to monitor and evaluate and determine how close we are to succeed.
Repetition is the essence of innovation in the design thinking approach, especially in the modeling stage, so projects must be constantly reviewed, ideas tested, improved enjoyment of responses and comments, and continuous development in its miniature framework before expanding on it.
Dr. Khaled Al-Nafisi
Published in Al-Qabas newspaper
