Integrating knowledge-building principles into design thinking: Scaffolding innovative ideation: A systematic literature review

Abstract

This systematic literature review explores the intersection of knowledge-building principles and design-thinking methodologies in the context of education. Design thinking, a cognitive approach to problem-solving, often encounters challenges in generating innovative ideas during its implementation in educational settings. This review examines how integrating knowledge-building principles into design thinking can address these challenges. Knowledge-building, centred on collaborative knowledge enhancement and community responsibility, offers a framework that aligns well with the iterative, creative and collaborative aspects of design thinking. The review analyses studies that discuss obstacles in idea generation, compares knowledge-building and design-thinking methodologies and explores the potential of knowledge-building to enhance design-thinking outcomes. The findings suggest that intertwining knowledge-building principles with design-thinking practices can empower students to develop and refine ideas more effectively. The review contributes to modern pedagogy by offering insights into leveraging knowledge-building principles to enrich the design-thinking process and facilitate more productive ideation. It provides a comprehensive understanding of how these two approaches can be combined to enhance students’ problem-solving and creative-thinking abilities.