Approaching Bridges Between University Education and Elementary School

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Abstract

This article addresses the relation and common elements between design thinking and social outreach practices developed during the project “Training in Design Thinking for Teachers at San José Los Sitios Primary School.” At Dr. José Matías Delgado University, social outreach is conceived as a planned and systematic process as a means of tying in, academic activity with life outside the walls of the university, while focusing constructively in society. Since 2014, the Rosemarie Vázquez Liévano de Ángel School of Design has worked with different public schools in the province of La Libertad, including this project in particular, which aimed to apply design thinking methodology as a tool for human-centered problem-solving. Using grounded theory, five categories linking analogous elements between design thinking and social outreach practices were identified. Such elements include connecting ideas, teamwork, shared knowledge, organization, and empathy/sense of belonging. This project enhanced communication among teachers, and students became more engaged in design work while raising new thoughts in practice-based and collaborative design learning approaches.