Understand a learner
Use a learner card and evidence to identify a specific moment of friction.
A 5E Design Thinking Workshop
Future Frictions
Designing the Future of Education
Exploring the emerging challenges, opportunities and tensions shaping the future of learning.
Education is changing rapidly. New technologies, changing learner expectations, artificial intelligence, lifelong learning, industry demands and global uncertainty are reshaping how people learn. In a 90-minute sprint or 180-minute workshop, explore an emerging educational challenge, examine future trends, generate innovative responses and consider how solutions might be implemented responsibly and sustainably.
For academic and professional staff
Work together using future scenarios, learner cards and the five stages of design thinking.
The premise
What challenge, tension or unmet need might students, educators or institutions face in the future of education?
Begin with people’s experiences and consider how those experiences may change. Move from a future tension through evidence, ideas and a prototype to responsible implementation.
What you will do
Turn a possible future into something you can test.
Choose a duration, select one challenge card, then open your workshop. Work through Engage, Evaluate, Explore, Expand and Execute as a team.
Make and test an idea
Explore alternatives, build a simple prototype and gather feedback.
Plan responsible action
Identify who benefits, who could be excluded, and how you will measure success.
Both options give you a defined challenge and a first implementation step. The longer workshop adds a structured test-and-revision cycle and a more detailed pilot plan. Learner cards and supporting tools appear at the relevant workshop stage.
Choose your duration
How much time do you have?
Both options follow the same five stages. Choose the sprint for an initial concept and prototype, or the longer workshop to test, refine and plan implementation.
Education — 90 minutes
A focused sprint with six starting points. Move quickly from a learner’s experience to a simple prototype and first implementation step.
Choose a 90-minute challenge →Education — 180 minutes
Interview, investigate evidence, compare ideas, test and revise a prototype, and plan a responsible pilot. Includes structured feedback and a 10-minute break.
Choose a 180-minute challenge →Choose your workshop
90 minutes or 180 minutes?
Both workshops follow the five stages. The longer session gives you more time for interviews, evidence, testing, revision and a practical pilot plan. Each team works on one challenge throughout.
| Activity | 90-minute sprint | 180-minute workshop |
|---|---|---|
| Challenge selection | Choose one of 6 scenarios. | Choose one of 12 scenarios. |
| Introduction | 10 minutes · Frame the challenge and select a learner. | 15 minutes · Frame the challenge, select a learner and identify evidence needed. |
| Engage | 10 minutes · Use a learner card and a real experience to identify needs. | 20 minutes · Conduct a paired interview and refine the learner’s needs. |
| Evaluate | 10 minutes · Identify relevant signals, evidence and assumptions. | 20 minutes · Examine two sources and local evidence; challenge assumptions and record uncertainties. |
| Explore | 15 minutes · Generate ideas and identify three promising concepts. | 30 minutes · Develop three distinct alternatives, compare them and justify your selection. |
| Break | No scheduled break. | 10 minutes after Explore, with a break timer. |
| Expand | 15 minutes · Create a simple prototype and invite a quick response. | 30 minutes · Test with another team, capture feedback and revise the prototype. |
| Execute | 15 minutes · Identify a first implementation step, risks and success measures. | 30 minutes · Develop a pilot plan with an owner, safeguards, support, success measures and a review date. |
| Showcase | 10 minutes · Prepare a short showcase and exchange paired pitches and feedback. | 20 minutes · Present the concept and receive structured feedback: a benefit, a concern and a next test. |
| Reflection | 5 minutes · Write a future headline and agree a next action. | 5 minutes · Write a future headline and agree a next action. |
| Your takeaway | An initial concept, a simple prototype and a first implementation step. | A tested and revised concept with a practical implementation plan. |
| Downloads | Formatted Word and PDF records of your responses. | Formatted Word and PDF records, including the additional activities and structured feedback. |
| Total time | 90 minutes | 180 minutes, including the break |
Leading the session?
Prepare with the session guide, timings, printable workbook and complete resource pack.
Open Facilitator Resources →From possibilities to responsibility