Using Design Thinking to Approach International Student Transition Goals

Abstract

Our course, UNIV 141, is a freshmen transition course for international students. Our instructional team has taken to using the principles of design thinking and the technology of Blackboard to approach a host of student outcomes and skills development that are somewhat elusive but key to successful transition to the university: critical thinking, English language development, campus involvement, time management, multicultural knowledge, community service, and academic integrity. We wish to share with the campus the ways that we have modified design thinking to fit our population and to incorporate our target outcomes, and the ways that we are using Blackboard to accomplish that. We also would like to show how what we do can be transferred to other courses, populations, and/or contexts.

For more information about Mason's diverse student population:àhttps://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/teaching/knowing-mason-students