Designer
Develop a problem statement and user journey
By the end of the workshop, teams will have:
A clear problem statement
Either a working or a paper prototype
A 2-minute pitch delivered to peers or judges
A network of co-designers
Two Versions
2-Hour Version
Teams pitch to the whole group (no judges required). Perfect for workshops with time constraints while still delivering a complete design experience.
3-Hour Version
Teams pitch to judges for structured feedback. Ideal for deeper engagement and professional development with expert evaluation.
The Workshop at a Glance
2-Hour Version
Fast-paced & energetic
Timeline
0:00-0:20
→
Introduction & Team Formation
0:20-0:50
→
Designer Hat (30 min)
0:50-1:20
→
Builder Hat (30 min)
1:20-1:40
→
Advocate Hat (20 min)
1:40-2:00
→
Pitch & Quick Reflection
What “hats” do participants wear?
Builder
Create a prototype that shows your solution
Advocate
Deliver a compelling 2-minute pitch
Key Principles
Human First, AI Second
Teams discuss ideas before using AI tools
Fail Fast, Learn Faster
Prototypes are meant to be messy
Empathy-Driven
Keep your target learners at the center of every decision
Adaptable to Many Educational Challenges
This workshop framework works across contexts. Here are example challenge areas where teams can apply the Designer-Builder-Advocate approach:
Student-Focused Challenges
Mental Health & Well-Being
Attendance & Engagement
Student Agency & Voice
Learning Differences
Featured in this toolkit
Community Connection
Reading & Literacy
Educator-Focused Challenges
Professional Learning
Instructional Skills & Practice
Curriculum & Assessment Tools
Administrative Support
Retention & Hiring
Work-Life Balance
Systems & Infrastructure
Personalized Learning
College & Career Readiness
Supporting Diverse Learners
Social-Emotional Learning
Technology Integration
English Language Learners
Frequently Asked Questions
2-hour: Better for classrooms, limited schedules, or when judges aren't available. Teams still get full design experience but with tighter timeframes.
3-hour: Ideal for professional development, conferences, or when you want deeper engagement and structured feedback from experts.
3-hour: Ideal for professional development, conferences, or when you want deeper engagement and structured feedback from experts.
Possible but not recommended. Minimum 2 facilitators (1 lead + 1 roamer). Ideal is 3-4.
Run the 2-hour version instead! Teams pitch to each other, which still provides valuable feedback and community building.
You don't need to be an AI expert! Review the AI Tool Tutorials document and play with ChatGPT or Claude for 30 minutes. That's enough.
Yes! Adapt examples, timing, and materials for your context. But keep the 3-hat structure and human-first approach.
- 2-hour version: 12 participants (3 teams of 4)
- 3-hour version: 16 participants (4 teams of 4)
- 2-hour version: 25 participants (6-7 teams) with 2-3 facilitators
- 3-hour version: 32 participants (8 teams of 4) with 3-4 facilitators
No! The workshop guides participants through understanding the challenge as part of the design process. Curiosity and passion for the topic matter more than prior expertise.
Use the Troubleshooting Playbook guidance on this. Ask probing questions, redirect gently, and flag to lead facilitator if needed.
The toolkit is designed for in-person, but virtual could be possible with modifications (although we haven't run it this way yet!)
Yes! While our materials use learning differences as the example, this framework is designed to be flexible. The Designer-Builder-Advocate structure works whether you're tackling student mental health, teacher professional development, personalized learning infrastructure, or other AI+education challenges. The process stays the same—you just center it around your specific context and learners.