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Design Thinking for Social Change (TEL)

Partner Pacific School of Religion
Learning Pillar Theological Imagination
Rigor Level Medium
This course is one part of nine in the Theological Education for Leadership (TEL) Learning Path offered by PSR.  It is one quarter of the full-term course of the same name and is considered the introduction to the introductory overview of Design Thinking for Social Change. In this course you will be developing the skills needed to discern a need, construct a challenge statement and iterate potential solutions in your respective target population.  You will also develop a proposal to present to the decision makers of your target population.

Learning Objectives

In this TEL course, you will learn:
  1. How to perform an Empathic Interview and use the findings to discern a need.
  2. The framing of a challenge and how to formulate this into a challenge statement.
  3. The importance of and need for recursiveness in developing a solution for a discerned need.
  4. Relationship building, through proposing your challenge statement and solution options to stakeholders. 
 

Course Components

Introduction

  • Introduction to Design Thinking for Social Change

    118-1
    5 Minutes
    Lesson Locked

Design Thinking for Social Change

  • The Design Lens: What is Design Thinking?

    119-1

    In this lesson, Prof. Goldberg introduces the concept of design.

    You'll watch two short videos that explore the design lens, the idea of affordance, and how design connects to social change. After viewing, you'll respond to one Reflective Question by posting in the Forum. A related resource is also provided to support your learning.

     

    10 Minutes
    Assignment
    Lesson Locked

  • Context: Historical Perspective

    120-1

    This lesson explores the history and evolution of design.

    The first video takes you through a historical perspective—from early human tools to modern design. The second video explains how design developed into a formal way of thinking and a discipline. The final video looks at how thoughtful design can positively impact a world in need of intentional and spiritually grounded leaders.

    You’ll respond to one Reflective Question in the Forum and have access to one related resource to support your learning.

    20 Minutes
    Assignment
    Lesson Locked

  • Mindsets, Skills and Methods of Human Centered Design

    121-1

    This lesson introduces the differences between divergent and convergent thinking within the design process.

    You’ll explore key mindsets essential to design thinking for social change, and consider how the practice of design mirrors spiritual disciplines—emphasizing the importance of praxis, or applied practice, as a crucial step.

    Note from the Professor:
    You may want to revisit this material after going through a full design cycle. These concepts will become clearer and more meaningful once you've experienced them firsthand.

    There is one Reflective Question to complete as part of this lesson.

    18 Minutes
    Assignment
    Lesson Locked

  • Human Centered Design Step-by-Step: Exercises and Practice

    122-1

    This lesson walks you through the six key steps of the Human-Centered Design process using videos, visual aids, and hands-on activities.

    Note from the Professor:
    For each step:

    • Watch the lecture (more than once, if helpful)

    • Study and break down the infographic

    • Practice the method

    • Repeat as needed

    The Six Steps Covered in This Lesson:

    1. Inspire – Learn how community-centered inspiration arises through empathic listening and identifying human needs.

    2. Define – Understand how to clearly define the real need uncovered through interviews.

    3. Ideate – Explore group brainstorming and the creative process of generating ideas.

    4. Prototype – Discover how to build quick models to test and refine your ideas.

    5. Test – Learn the value of testing your prototypes and gathering feedback.

    6. Reflect – Recognize the essential role of reflection in refining both your design and your understanding.

    What’s Included:

    • One Reflective Question

    • A Final Assignment

    • Two supporting resources to deepen your learning

    38 Minutes
    Assignment
    Lesson Locked

Features and Benefits

This area is dedicated to highlight the features and benefits of the course, providing potential students with compelling reasons to enroll.

How This Equips Faith Leaders

This section is dedicated to explaining how the course equips faith leaders with necessary tools and insights.

Design Thinking for Social Change (TEL)

Taught by Niel Goldberg

This foundational course introduces the principles of Design Thinking for Social Change. Students will learn to identify community needs, craft challenge statements, and develop iterative solutions for their target populations. The course culminates in the creation of a proposal aimed at engaging decision-makers and driving meaningful, community-centered change.

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Niel Goldberg

Meet Your Instructor,
Niel Goldberg

Neil Goldberg, an Adjunct Professor at Pacific School of Religion, is a designer, entrepreneur, educator, and author with a passion for seeing human centered design applied with artisanal care to every kind of artifact of the human imagination – and to bring forward design as a framework for enlivened leadership. After starting his career with furniture maker Herman Miller, he brought the people centered innovation process he practiced there to Silicon Valley where he founded the design agency Praxis, and led multi-disciplinary teams developing award winning products. As an entrepreneur he founded WorkClub, the first co-working business operating on a subscription business model. He has also created ventures in digital photography, online print fulfillment and solar power.

Join this course’s forum conversations