Design Thinking in Classroom: An Experience with Undergrad Students of a Business Course

Abstract

As managers become more interested in design methods, business students will need to develop competency and business schools will, in turn, be expected to provide courses in these approaches. The objective of this paper is to describe the design thinking process of a learning situation project proposed to students of an undergrad course of Business at a Brazilian university. The project was to elevate the students ́ engagement and have them more motivated and fascinated in the classroom. This research is theoretical-empirical with descriptive objective. The reference used was the five phases of design thinking for educators.The contribution of this article is to fill the vacuum that exists in the academic study concerning the application of design thinking in the classroom. Helping the students to think like designers may prepare them to face challenges and to solve problems in school as well as in their professional lives.