Design Thinking as a Case-based Learning for College General Education Courses

Abstract

Design thinking is vital for attaining sustainable development goals (SDG) or SDG in education. This article investigates the status of design thinking education in realizing SDG in education. The intentional requirement for using innovative design to enhance national competitiveness is discussed regarding the "Made in China 2025" policy document. It then investigates the current status of design thinking curriculum development in China, counting the adoption of Western models and the formation of project cooperation mechanisms, the combination of design thinking into general education courses, and the rise of online courses over the development of the Internet. Five international best practices of design thinking courses are offered, i.e., Stanford University, the University of Miami, the Royal College of Art, Vanderbilt University, and Tama Art University. These practices tell the different features of design thinking courses and emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, actual problem-solving, And the cultivation of a humanistic spirit and social responsibility. The article then highlights vital lessons and conclusions from design thinking education in general higher education courses. These include the importance of human-centered, social, and computational thinking, the value of interdisciplinary collaboration in developing collaborative empathy, and the practical problem-solving skills and creativity that design thinking can undertake. To sum up, the design thinking course is an effective way to improve the design thinking level of college students and change the existing teaching methods of various majors, and it has significant benefits for both students and enterprises. Overall, the paper provides a comprehensive picture of the importance of design thinking education in achieving educational sustainability, highlighting its potential for developing innovative and practical problem-solving skills in college students and its relevance to various disciplines and industries.