Case study of applying design thinking methodology to school change processes in a Chinese primary school transitioning to implementation of the International Baccalaureate PYP curriculum

1. 1
Alex Makosz
Group Director – Curriculum，
Assessment & Learning
Vice Principal
Chiway Education Group
• Founded in 1996
• Headquartered in Shanghai, but primarily
developing in 3rd tier cities of China
• Ownership group historically primarily
focused on real estate
• Operates more than 10 K-12 schools with
more than 10,000 students and staff
Alex Makosz / Unleash! Design Thinking Forum HK 2019
CAEL MBA M.Ed
• PreK-12, total of 1,200 students, 556 primary school students
• Private bilingual school offering Chinese national curriculum blended with
international curricula
• IB Primary Years Program candidate school
• Chinese student body
NOT a trained designer

2. Revising structure of primary school
curriculum mid-school year
550+ students and 70+ teaching
staff affected
Change leadership team applied
design thinking methods to guide
revision process
Use Case

3. Process Followed
• Change team formed (October 29)
• Professional development on design
thinking process (Nov 5)
• Empathy interviews with colleagues,
students and families
• Survey of teachers
• Survey of 400+ families
• Iteration of proposed changes,
reviewed and revised with teacher,
student and parent feedback
• Final changes ratified (January 16)
3Alex Makosz / Unleash! Design Thinking Forum HK 2019

4. Resulting Curriculum Changes
• Addition of one more teaching period to school day & complete
revision of teaching timetable
• All English lessons streamed by student ability
• Small group lessons and mentorship lessons introduced for low-ability
students
• Teaching staff reallocated to roles based on self-assessed confidence
and expertise with timetables based on standard deviation of student
ability in classes
• Increased diversity of interest classes & interest-driven PE lessons
• New hiring criteria developed for targeting future international
teachers with specific skill sets
4Alex Makosz / Unleash! Design Thinking Forum HK 2019

5. 5Alex Makosz / Unleash! Design Thinking Forum HK 2019
Broad stakeholder support and high levels of satisfaction
since implementing changes
Positive PTA support and improved relations with PTA
Projected positive impact on teacher retention

6. Stakeholder-driven
Process oriented
Values transparency and
collaboration
Authority driven (HIPPOs)
Idiosyncratic Decision-making
Values control and hierarchy
6Alex Makosz / Unleash! Design Thinking Forum HK 2019

7. Key Points
Application of design thinking by
design novices
(you can do it too!)
Good fit with other best practices
in school change processes
Effectiveness in changing culture as
well as curriculum structure