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The Educational Review, USA

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Article Open Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2021.12.004

Fostering Creativity, Innovation and Problem-Solving Skills by Incorporating Design Thinking in an Introductory IT Course: Students’ and Faculty Perceptions

Maha Al-Yahya1,*, Henda Chorfi Ouertani1, Sahar Bayoumi1,2

1Department of Information Technology, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

2Department of Information Technology, Institute of Graduate Studies & Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.

*Corresponding author: Maha Al-Yahya

Published: December 29,2021

Abstract

The IT job market demands graduates equipped with skills necessary for the new digital era. These skills include complex problem solving, critical thinking, and creativity. To provide the students with the necessary experience and the opportunities to practice these skills to be ready for the job market, we present the design and evaluation of an introductory course in the IT Bachelor program at King Saud University. The course introduces students to the IT discipline and provides an opportunity to experience problem solving and engage in activities which foster creativity and innovation using design thinking methods. In this paper, we present the design of the course, its content and structure, and an evaluation of the course over the period of two semesters. Student and faculty surveys were used to collect the data, and quantitative and qualitative methods were used for data analysis and evaluation. The results of this study show that students enjoyed the course and were satisfied with the development of their knowledge and problem-solving skills using design thinking. Faculty also indicated that the course has helped students build solutions targeting real world problems, and enhanced their problem solving and creative thinking skills.

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How to cite this paper

Fostering Creativity, Innovation and Problem-Solving Skills by Incorporating Design Thinking in an Introductory IT Course: Students' and Faculty Perceptions

How to cite this paper: Maha Al-Yahya, Henda Chorfi Ouertani, Sahar Bayoumi. (2021). Fostering Creativity, Innovation and Problem-Solving Skills by Incorporating Design Thinking in an Introductory IT Course: Students' and Faculty Perceptions. The Educational Review, USA5(12), 478-489.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/er.2021.12.004