DT 1: Design Thinking Foundations & AI - EDC-X749AA

Course Description

Credit Validation for Ed3 Participants Only

This course builds a practical foundation in Design Thinking for educators, with artificial intelligence (AI) serving as a thought partner throughout every stage. Educators explore the mindsets behind Design Thinking and the six-stage Ed3 design cycle, then apply the full cycle in a focused design sprint centered on a real challenge from their own classroom or school.

Across the modules, educators create an empathy map, examine the context surrounding their challenge, develop a learner-centered problem statement, generate and prototype ideas, engage in a simulated testing conversation, and produce either a pilot-ready resource or a shareable summary of their design journey. AI supports perspective-taking, research, ideation, and feedback throughout the process, while educator expertise and firsthand knowledge of learners remain at the center.

By the end of the course, participants will have practiced the complete Design Thinking cycle and created a concrete resource they can implement in their educational setting.

Course Topics

• Design Thinking Foundations
• Empathize
• Discover
• Define
• Ideate and Prototype
• Test and Evaluate
• Produce

Learner Outcomes

• Apply the six stages of the Design Thinking cycle to a real challenge from their own classroom or school context, moving from understanding learners to producing a usable design
• Craft a learner-centered problem statement grounded in empathy work and contextual evidence, and develop it into a tested prototype or shareable design artifact
• Collaborate with AI as a thought partner for perspective-taking, research, ideation, and feedback simulation while keeping educator discernment and knowledge of learners at the center

Course Details

PLEASE READ ALL COURSE DETAILS

Number of Units: 0.5 graduate level extension credit(s) in semester hours.

Who Should Attend: This course provides continuing education for Ed3 Participants.

University of San Diego – Graduate-Level Extension Credit Information

The University of San Diego partners with this program to offer graduate-level extension credit(s) in semester hours through the Credit Validation Program. To earn units, participants must register for and successfully complete coursework through the external program provider.

Credits earned through USD’s Credit Validation Program are widely accepted by many school districts and universities across the United States for purposes such as license renewal, required professional development hours, short-term skill building, salary advancement, credentialing, and potential advanced degree pathways.

These units do not apply toward a master’s or higher degree program at the University of San Diego; however, they may be transferable to advanced degree programs (e.g., MA, EdD, PhD) at other institutions that accept external graduate-level credits.

Participants are responsible for confirming acceptance, transcript requirements, deadlines, and applicability of units with their employing district or intended institution prior to enrollment.

Directions to Enroll for Credit 

Step 1: Register with the Partner Organization 
Complete your registration directly with the partner organization. Follow their instructions to begin the course and pay any required enrollment fees.

• Homepage: Ed3
• Enroll: [Ed3] Design Thinking Foundations & AI
• Contact Ed3

Please Note: USD does not provide course materials, manage instruction, or assign grades. All coursework is evaluated by the program’s instructor or coordinator.

Step 2: Complete the Course 
Participate fully in the course through the partner organization and complete all required assignments, activities, and assessments. (Some courses, specifically DoDEA courses, may require participants to purchase units before the course ends; please check the enrollment window for details.)

Step 3: Register for University Credit
After confirming your registration with the partner organization and completing your program, return to USD’s website.

• Locate the same course on our listings page
• Click Add to Cart
• Click Check Out
• You will be prompted to either log into your USD Student Account or create one, and then pay for your units

If this course displays Request Information, it means the course is either not yet open for enrollment (please check the enrollment dates) or enrollment has already closed. If enrollment has closed, you may still contact the organization directly to see if they will accept a late enrollment or if the course will be offered again in the future.

Step 4: Partner Organization Submits Grades
After you finish, the partner organization will submit your final grade to USD.

Step 5: Receive Your Transcript
No further action is needed. Once your grade has been processed, USD will issue an official transcript reflecting your earned university credit. Transcripts are mailed to the address listed in your USD student account. 

Transcript Process: Once we receive your certificate of completion, we will begin processing your transcript. Participants are responsible for ensuring that their mailing address is accurate and up to date in their USD student account to avoid delays in transcript delivery.

Transcript Delivery Timeline:

• U.S. addresses: 2–3 weeks
• International addresses: 3–4 weeks

For detailed information regarding the University of San Diego Credit Validation Program, please consult our Participant Guide.