Author(s): Nunes, Sofia ; Ferreira, João
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/44765
Origin: RIA - Repositório Institucional da Universidade de Aveiro
Subject(s): Soft skills; Design thinking; Elementary education; Alpha generation; Project-based teaching
This paper investigates the effectiveness of integrating design thinking methodologies into elementary education to foster soft skills among children aged 9 to 10. There is a widening gap in soft skills among younger generations, particularly when first entering the workplace. Therefore, the study explores the impact of design thinking interventions on seven key soft skills: teamwork, empathy, communication, systemic thinking, creativity and problem-solving, leadership, and critical thinking. Using data collected from a public school in Portugal, the study demonstrates that early exposure to design thinking enhances these critical skills among children. The findings suggest that integrating design thinking into general education holds promise for nurturing essential soft skills from a young age, aligning with broader trends advocating for design’s inclusion in educational curricula as a foundational discipline for holistic skill development.
