Design Thinking, AI, and Te Ao Māori: A Human-Centered Future for Education
I recently attended FETC in Orlando, Florida and had the opportunity to meet Sabba Quidwai , author of Designing Schools , and discuss her belief in the power of design thinking in conjunction with artificial intelligence (AI). Her SPARK model—structured around Situation, Problem, Aspiration, Results, and Kismet—emphasizes a human-centered approach to education, as Sabba puts it, we must prompt the human first. I also managed to grab a copy of the book (Thanks Sabba and Jen Womble ) and as I read the pages, I was, in the back of my mind thinking how a lot of the ideas align closely with the principles of Te Ao Māori (The Māori world). While these frameworks emerge from different cultural and philosophical traditions, they share a fundamental conceit: the future of education must prioritize people, relationships, and collective growth rather than technology alone. The SPARK Model and Te Ao Māori: Points of Connection The SPARK model is designed to empower the learner as the driver of in...