Indus Training and Research Institute (ITARI)





Today, I met with the Indus Training and Research Institute Director, Ms. Mala Palani, to talk about my idea of creating a teacher's guide for the Design Thinking Process (DTP) specific to content. It was the first time that I was met with such enthusiasm and energy right from when I entered her office. Usually, I am met with a lot of skepticism and concern around how teachers can meet the standards for their assessments and incorporate this creative element. There was no confusion at this meeting. She was right there with me as I explained what I have been piloting and how I have been thinking about this guide. She absolutely loved it and we plan on spending my final weeks together to build a viable "product" for teachers in India that are trained through their program as well as creating a network of Design Thinker Teachers that share and reflect on the ups and downs of implementing these concepts wherever they may be in the world.

To say the least, I left the meeting with a renewed energy and am very excited to complete a draft of this guide for people here in India and to bring it home to New Mission. I am also excited about the prospect of this guide reaching new heights in the world of education. Wherever it may go, I know that I am still deeply rooted in teaching at New Mission and incorporating DTP into my curriculum. And hopefully my work with the guide will be as an advisory role rather than a leader. I want to be in the classroom on the ground really understanding how it works and tweaking it to best meet the needs of my students.

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