Addressing Misconceptions in Biology Using Design Thinking as A Framework

Innovation is fuel for the sustainability and competitive advantage of an organization. Practitioners have proposed several tools to promote innovation in an organization. The design thinking framework is one approach for problem-solving that can lead to innovations. Some industries have already matured in practicing the design thinking approach, while others are in the nascent stage and still exploring the benefits of creating more innovations. This article puts forwards a systematic literature review followed by a bibliometric analysis on adoption of a design thinking approach for fueling innovation and solving complex problems in different domains. The present study also gives an overview of the penetration of the design thinking approach in various industries and domains. The literature review reveals that design thinking is practiced in almost all industry segments, with more evidence in education and healthcare and an upward trend in user-centered design and complex problem-solving.

Background: Design thinking is a human-centered, systematic method for problem-solving. To address gaps in curricula for design thinking and curriculum development for medical students, we created a Design Thinking Workshop in an existing students-as-teachers course. Our intervention aimed to teach learners two things: 1) how to apply design thinking to creatively problem solve; and 2) how to utilize design thinking as a curriculum design framework. The central aim of this innovation was to support this outcome: for learners to design curricula that meets an identified need of their learners during the students-as-teachers course. Methods: This workshop introduced the framework of design thinking and how to use design thinking tools to create curricula. Seventeen students participated and created educational projects using a design thinking approach. We evaluated the workshop using a pre/post student survey and structured rating of projects. Results: After completing the curriculum, students were more confident in identifying gaps in existing curricula and designing educational projects. After the workshop, the student curriculum projects were more likely to address a specific curricular need when compared with the student projects created during the previous year. Discussion: We found that participating in the workshop increased students’ confidence in each step of curriculum development and that, after completing the workshop, more students could design high quality educational projects by addressing a specific learner need. Despite the intervention, many students’ projects were still not “high quality”, and based on this team’s experience, more faculty support as well as near-peer mentorship can increase the quality of projects.

Background Power asymmetries between global health actors based in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and those based in High-Income Countries persist. Often actors in low-resource settings are seen solely as implementers of projects designed in High-Income Countries and are often not involved in the decision-making. To tackle the problem of power imbalances, a human-centered framework of design thinking was used for inclusive strategy development. This paper discusses how design thinking was used as a framework for the co-creation of Operation Smile Malawi’s (OSM) long-term strategy in a collaborative environment with in-country and international partners. Methods The strategic planning process included a situation analysis, priority setting workshop and participant feedback. A four-question design thinking framework was used to frame the three-day priority setting sessions; ‘what is’, ‘what if’, ‘what wows’, and ‘what works’. Design thinking tools that were used during the priority setting workshop included; visualization, journey mapping, mind mapping, brainstorming and concept development. At the end of the priority-setting sessions, an e-survey was used to assess the participants’ understanding and perception of the use of design thinking for strategic planning. Results The product of the process was a long-term strategy with goals, activities and strategies that were understood and agreed upon by all stakeholders. The post-workshop e-survey revealed that all participants responded that the design thinking process fostered team spirit during the entire process. The design thinking process also made the strategic planning workshop more productive and enabled participants to incorporate their own ideas into the five-year strategy. Furthermore, participants reported learning something outside their area of expertise. Conclusions As global health organizations increasingly recognize the need for equitable partnerships in the design and implementation of global health programs, the human-centred approach of design thinking can be used to create open and collaborative program design.

Aim/Purpose: To explore the effectiveness of utilizing the design thinking approach in developing digital self-directed learning environment to enhance digital literacy skills in Thai higher education. Background: To foster digital literacy skills in higher education, Thai students require more than access to technology. Emphasizing digital self-directed learning and incorporating Design Thinking approach, can empower students to learn and develop their digital skills effectively. This study explores the impact of digital self-directed learning environment, developed using a design thinking approach, on enhancing digital literacy skills among higher education students in Thailand. Methodology: The research methodology involves developing a digital self-directed learning environment, collecting and analyzing data, and using statistical analysis to compare the outcomes between different groups. The sample includes 60 undergraduate students from the School of Industrial Education and Technology at King Mongkut Institute of Technology, divided into a control group (n=30) and an experimental group (n=30). Data analysis involves mean, standard deviation, and one-way MANOVA. Contribution: This research contributes to the evidence supporting the use of Design Thinking in developing digital self-directed learning environment, demonstrating its effectiveness in meeting learners’ needs and improving learning outcomes in higher education. Findings: Key findings include: 1) the digital media and self-directed learning activities plan developed through the design thinking approach received high-quality ratings from experts, with mean scores of 4.87 and 4.93, respectively; and 2) post-lesson comparisons of learning outcome and digital literacy assessment scores revealed that the group utilizing digital media with self-directed learning activities had significantly higher mean scores than the traditional learning group, with a significance level of 0.001. Recommendations for Practitioners: Practitioners in higher education should use design thinking to develop digital self-directed learning environments that enhance digital literacy skills. This approach involves creating high-quality digital media and activities, promoting engagement and improved outcomes. Collaboration and stakeholder involvement are essential for effective implementation. Recommendation for Researchers: Researchers should continue to explore the effectiveness of design thinking approaches in the development of learning environments, as well as their influence on different educational aspects such as student engagement, satisfaction, and overall learning outcomes. Impact on Society: By enhancing digital literacy skills among higher education students, this study contributes to the development of a digitally skilled workforce, encourages lifelong learning, and aids individuals in effectively navigating the challenges of the digital era. Future Research: Future research could explore a broader range of student demographics and educational settings to validate the effectiveness of the Design Thinking approach in enhancing digital literacy. This could include integrating design thinking with alternative digital learning and teaching methods to further improve digital literacy.

ContextThere is growing interest and importance for responsible research and innovation (RRI) among academic scholars and policy makers, especially, in relation to emerging technologies in the agricultural context. While the evolution of smart technologies in agriculture has led to an increase of available solutions that can be used by farmers, the RRI process of new farming technology has been minimally detailed in research contributions to date. ObjectiveThis paper thus aims to describe the first 3 phases of a design thinking process to aid with the development of an agricultural innovation, namely, a geotag photo application for use on smart devices. MethodsThe design thinking approach involved engaging with target users, such as farmers, farm advisors and inspectors, alongside research scientists, app developers and the national agricultural governing body in Ireland to commence the app development process. This paper describes methodology used to elicit the first three major phases of the design thinking approach: empathise, define and ideation. In the first phase a stakeholder mapping activity was conducted, as well as 7 focus groups and 10 interviews with users and other key actors regarding the challenges and needs related to using the app. The define phase included a reflection of results from the first phase and subsequent development of user-personas and problem statements to inform the third phase. The third phase, ideation, consisted of four interactive user-centred workshops, focusing on app needs, in which ideas and solutions were developed and prioritised. Results and conclusionsThe design thinking approach supported multiple stakeholders to express and evaluate the benefits and challenges they associated with the initial development phases involved in designing a new geotag photo app. It also revealed that, by including farmers and additional actors in developing new farming technology enables technology developers to harness the full value of multiples types of knowledge and expertise. In conclusion, future research on innovation development should consider that by enabling engagement among a wide variety of actors, such as that offered by the initial stages of design thinking, and attending to a greater diversity of values is essential to the development of a responsible, and responsive, digital tool. SignificanceThis study is the first to methodically document the early stages of developing a geotag smartphone app using a design thinking approach. This paper will therefore benefit other scholars aiming to include farmers, and other agricultural stakeholders to have an input on the agri-tech development decisions that will ultimately impact their farming lives.

This study aims to explore innovation in mathematics learning through the application of the design thinking approach to support students' mathematical creative thinking skills. The research employed an exploratory mixed-method approach based on the design thinking framework, focusing on the empathize, define, and ideate stages. The study involved 160 students and 11 mathematics teachers from four madrasahs in Kendal Regency, Indonesia. Data were collected through questionnaires and in-depth interviews and analyzed using descriptive qualitative analysis supported by triangulation techniques. In addition, a meta-analysis of 11 relevant studies was conducted using the OpenMEE application to examine the effectiveness of several proposed learning solutions. The results of the empathize stage showed that 67% of students had positive emotional responses toward mathematics learning, while 65% experienced difficulties in remembering formulas and 57.5% had difficulty understanding mathematical concepts. At the define stage, the main problems identified were students’ difficulties in understanding abstract mathematical concepts, low learning motivation, and the need for more interactive and differentiated learning approaches. The ideate stage generated several potential solutions, including the development of differentiated learning supported by interactive media such as H5P and Edpuzzle as well as the implementation of the REACT learning model. The meta-analysis results indicated a large and statistically significant effect of these learning innovations on improving students' mathematical abilities, with an estimated effect size of 1.683 (p < 0.001; 95% CI = 1.022–2.345). These findings suggest that integrating design thinking with evidence-based learning innovations can provide effective strategies for improving students’ mathematical creative thinking skills and creating more interactive and student-centered mathematics learning environments.

Purpose Small business capabilities and customer interactions are particularly susceptible to market disruptions. Small businesses must pivot quickly to build or grow their capabilities and manage diverse strategies to deal with crises. This ability to quickly adapt and formulate strategies is necessary to help small businesses maintain sales and continue to engage with their clients, especially in light of disruption and crises. This work uses design thinking strategies to provide insight into how businesses can navigate such disruptions. Design/methodology/approach This research investigates how design thinking can help small businesses address crises. The focus is on leveraging design thinking strategies such as empathizing, defining, ideating, prototyping and testing (EDIPT), divergence/convergence and customer journey mapping design thinking tools. Findings The authors provide propositions and strategies to help firms adapt their strategies to the demands of clients during crises. Originality/value This piece provides an accessible introduction to three design thinking strategies (general EDIPT model, convergence/divergence and consumer journey mapping). The authors present this in the context of disruption, especially the recent pandemic, specifically focusing on small businesses.

The user interface is an influential element in software applications. A well-designed user interface will potentially increase the usability of software applications. Therefore, user interface designers should deliberate when considering which approach and method to implement for designing user interfaces. Design thinking is currently a widely followed approach in user interface design practices. Hence, this study aimed to explore research trends and current practices of design thinking approach for user interface design. This study employed a systematic literature review following the Kitchenham method. This study found 39 articles deemed relevant to the design thinking approach. In general, our study found five common stages broadly mentioned in the articles, i.e., empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test. The most widely practiced method during those five stages is interview, user persona, brainstorming, user interface, and usability testing. However, there is no consensus on what kind of stage(s) and which method(s) should be employed when following the design thinking approach for user interface design. Therefore, it will depend on the designer's decision in choosing which stage(s) and their related method(s) will be employed.

Design thinking is a catalyst that uncovers innovations. From realistic products, services, and business models, it seeks a creative approach to defining challenges and problem solving. This paper follows the documentation process behind an international group of faculty and students who embarked on a brand new learning experience. With collaborations through faculty expertise and student's hard work, they developed a process based on the design-thinking framework in a design-centric business model. Some viable strategies, techniques, and valuable learning outcomes will be shared in this paper.

Purpose The double threat of unequal job opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) and the lack of professional training to use innovative technologies at work have led to multiple calls to promote inclusivity at work. PWDs are underrepresented in the workforce and often face discrimination by employers. One way PWDs have responded to their limited employment within organisations is by pursuing self-employment or business creation. Higher education institutions (HEIs) and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions are expected to embrace new pedagogies facilitated by digital technologies to promote creativity in business among PWDs. While many studies have explored the potential of entrepreneurship education in equipping PWDs with the requisite skills and knowledge to become successful entrepreneurs, the aspect of technology has been largely overlooked. In this study, we employ a design thinking (DT) approach to propose a metaverse-based entrepreneurship education for disabilities (MEED) framework aimed at fostering inclusive innovation and entrepreneurship for vulnerable populations such as those with disabilities. Results: By leveraging metaverse technology based on the DT principle of empathy, entrepreneurship education for PWDs can be transformed to create lifelong learning opportunities. This approach enables seamless interactions and immersive learning experiences that support the educational needs of all learners. Implications Different entrepreneurship learning opportunities and scenarios for different disabilities are presented. Future research areas and possible implications are also discussed.

Purpose of this conceptual study is the identification of design thinking approaches and underlying logic for increasing the value proposition to improve customer experience in today´s dynamic and fast-changing business environment. Method of research based on content analysis of distinctive streams in the literature on design thinking for delivering the increased value proposition. Core elements of design thinking were identified and combined with service-oriented thinking logics aiming at providing superior value proposition and thus to improve customer experience. Furthermore, the article elaborates on the delimitation of Design thinking from Designerly thinking, and a new model for enhancing customer value propositions, the wheel of Design thinking, was developed based on core elements of Design thinking approaches. This approach has a potential to shape and redefine existing markets and to improve adjustment of products and services to dynamic customers´ needs and demands.DOI: 10.15408/etk.v17i2.7311

The implementation of hospital information systems in the digitalization-based era, including medical records, currently shows that there is a need for nursing education to focus on information education, including developing electronic-based practical student nursing care applications. This research aimed to design the user interface and user experience of electronic nursing documentation, named "The ENC". The ENC (electronic nursing care) with a design thinking approach. Designing the user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) used a design thinking approach consisting of empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test. Data collection was carried out at the empathize stage using content questionnaires and interviews. UI/UX design using the Figma application. Application testing with nursing student users based on predetermined scenarios. The ENC (electronic nursing care) application design uses the design thinking method to produce an application prototype that adapts to the needs of nursing students. To validate the efficacy of The ENC application, testing was conducted with nursing student users through predetermined scenarios. The design thinking approach facilitated the creation of an application prototype attuned to the specific requirements of nursing students. Following this, a comprehensive survey involving 30 nursing students was conducted to assess usability, quality, and satisfaction with the application's UI/UX, thereby capturing both positive and negative feedback. The ENC application adapts to the needs of nursing students to ease the transition from paper-based to electronic-based documentation, increase acceptance of the application, and increase its use in the clinical environment.

Reducing Time to Chemotherapy Administration in the Outpatient Setting of a Tertiary Cancer Centre Using a Design Thinking Approach

This research raises the issue of high sugar consumption which has a negative impact on public health. Data shows that sugar consumption in Indonesia is very high, making it one of the countries with the largest sugar consumption in the world. To overcome this problem, establishing a low-sugar dessert business is a very relevant solution. In this research, researchers used a qualitative descriptive method by adopting the Design Thinking approach as the main approach. Design Thinking is used to understand consumer needs and preferences and develop dessert products that are low in sugar but still delicious and satisfying. This method involves five stages, namely, empathy, defining the problem, ideation, prototyping, and testing. The research results show that the Design Thinking approach is successful in creating low-sugar dessert products that are well received by the market. The products resulting from this process not only meet health criteria but also satisfy consumer tastes, making them an attractive alternative to healthier desserts. This research also provides valuable insight into the market potential for low-sugar desserts and supports efforts to increase awareness of healthy eating among the public.

Design thinking is a process based on a set of tools that encourage innovation and is advocated to be used to solve abstract and complex problems (Brown, 2019). It is a human-centered approach to innovation, the concept is based on understanding customer’s needs (IDEO, 2022). This interactive, creative, experimental, collaborative, and explorative can play very important role in designing assistive technologies. In this article, we present case study research where design thinking methodology is used to develop accessible technology- Morphic auto personalization. Morphic is a tool that helps to discover features in computers that make them easier to use, allows anyone to make frequently used features and functions easily available and allows accessibility settings to follow users to other computers (Morphic, 2022). Through this case study, we identify how the use of design thinking methodology supports the development IT accessible technology. This work implemented a protocol of guidelines developed by a group of experts in disability research, information technologies, design, and management. The team conducted 5 phases of design thinking: 1. Empathize—research users’ needs, 2. Define—state users' needs and the problems, 3. Ideate—challenge assumptions and create ideas, 4. Prototype—start to create solutions, 5. Test—try solutions (Kelley, Kelley, 2013).Design thinking approach helped to develop a holistic understanding of the problems that users deal with when they use computers. Thanks to this project research participants were provided a grounded basis on assistive technologies built into the computers. The research revealed knowledge gap that the development of assistive technology should enhance the voice of participants and consider their ideas, desires and needs. Design thinking approach can develop a holistic understanding of the problems that users deal with when they use computers. Thanks to this project research participants were provided a grounded basis on assistive technologies built into the computers.