This workshop series is for K–12 classroom teachers.
Workshop Series: Design for Change – Design Thinking for Climate Resilience:
This workshop series is designed for K–12 classroom teachers who want to empower students as environmental leaders while strengthening STEM connections. Through three interactive sessions, you’ll gain practical tools to guide students in collecting data through eco-audits, applying design thinking and the engineering design-build process, and developing Student Innovation Grant projects that tackle real sustainability challenges in their communities.
By the end of the series, you’ll be ready to transform your classroom into a hub of eco-literacy, STEM exploration, and student-driven innovation and have access to the grant application to apply to the EcoRise Student Innovation Fund to get started right away.
What You’ll Learn:
How to conduct an eco-audit and use the findings as the foundation for STEM-based inquiry
Strategies for integrating design thinking and engineering design-build into sustainability projects
Steps for guiding students through the Student Innovation Grant application process
Ways to leverage EcoRise Design Studio curriculum to spark creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving
Agenda:
Session 1: Sustainability + Design Thinking in Action - Explore the “why” of sustainability and the “how” of design thinking. Learn how to use your school as a living laboratory to spark STEM innovation and transform your space.
Session 2: From Ideas to Impact - Apply design thinking and the engineering design-build process to brainstorm, prototype, and shape bold project ideas grounded in eco-audit findings.
Session 3: Pitch, Refine + Launch - Share your project concepts, gather feedback, and dive into the steps of the Student Innovation Grant process to bring student-driven solutions to life.
Participating teachers will receive CPE and GT credit. Stipends are being offered to teachers who complete all three sessions, more details to be provided in Session 1.