Spotlight Presentation: Design Education in Ontario K-8
Chairs: Hebron Gebre-Mariam (Waterloo Region District School Board), Mary Robinson (University of Waterloo)
This session provides an introductory look at the evolving landscape of design education within Ontario’s K-8 curriculum, with a focus on both classroom experiences and community-based engineering outreach programs that are bringing design thinking to life for students. We’ll explore key questions, such as: What are students experiencing with design education in their schools and communities? How are engineering outreach initiatives fostering hands-on, experiential learning that develops critical thinking and problem-solving skills? Additionally, we’ll address the unique challenges and needs that educators face in integrating these concepts effectively.
The insights gathered in this presentation will directly inform the subsequent Ideas Marketplace, where participants can dive deeper into these themes through interactive discussions. Participants are encouraged to reflect on their experiences, share observations, and bring questions to the Marketplace to collaboratively explore solutions, best practices, and potential collaborations for advancing design education in elementary settings.