Scalable STEAM Learning: Design Thinking Curriculum
Scalable STEAM Learning: Design Thinking Curriculum
The workshops, offered in both online and offline formats, teach primary school students design thinking and prototype creation as part of a maker education curriculum.
Responsibilities: Instructional Design, Project Management
Target Audience: Primary school students
Tools Used: Premiere Pro, Adobe Illustrator, 3D Printer, Laser Cutter
Client: TAL Education Group
Timeframe: December 2021 - July 2022 (Full-time)
In response to China's double reduction policy banning exam-focused tutoring, TAL Education Group launched a Maker Education branch in 2021 without previous experience in this field. Facing exam-oriented parental expectations, the uncertainties of the Covid-19 pandemic, and ambitious business objectives, they aim to achieve $1M in tuition revenue by serving thousands of students within a year. The challenge is to develop a scalable, cost-effective curriculum from scratch that aligns with learning outcomes appealing to exam-focused parents, and can be rapidly deployed across numerous teachers and students both online and offline.
I spearheaded the creation of seven design thinking workshops for Grade 1-3 students, offered in both online and in-person formats, centered on the theme of “redesigning community parks.” These workshops designed with constructionism and metacognition theories encourage students develop their own solutions to design challenges. Within just six months of launch, the program successfully garnered over 3,000 enrollments.
My role was multifaceted, involving project management, overseeing the project's timeline and budget, and collaborating with subject matter experts, video production and graphic design teams, as well as teachers, to produce a comprehensive array of educational materials and marketing assets. This suite included presentation slides, exercises, expert tutorial videos, animated videos, documentaries highlighting community challenges, student handbooks, hands-on educational toolkits and marketing posters and videos. Additionally, I managed the procurement of materials for students and led teacher training sessions, ensuring a seamless and effective educational experience.
7 workshop presentations with over 200 slides providing comprehensive content
7 student handbooks with more than 140 pages of guidance, exercises, and assignments to support hands-on learning and reflection.
30+ instructional videos: anchoring the problem-solving process and demonstrating tool usage
7 material kits for brainstorming and prototype construction
2 curriculum posters designed to showcase the full curriculum, learning objectives, and material kits, effectively attracting and informing parents.
1 marketing video highlighting the workshop process and student engagement, serving as a promotional tool to demonstrate the program's value and appeal.