Active Learning and Development of Design Thinking Ability at Students

The paper analyzes paradigms that highlight the role of active teaching and active learning methods in developing the skills for the professional and social life of the students. The first chapter of the paper argues the need to develop social and creative abilities that lead students to competence in design thinking. Successful response of the student to the demands of professional and social life requires skills like empathy, assertiveness, cooperation, problem solving, implementation of innovative solutions. Ability of design thinking involves a divergent thinking, ability to autonomously design their own strategies in relation to personal development needs, self-assertion and prosocial project development. The training of these skills is possible if the educational environment is one that offers stimulating techniques, adequately prepared human resources, social training contexts. Interactive teaching enables the student to act independently, to be capable of self-management and personal development. The proactive creativity of teachers facilitates active learning methods which will lead to students developing empathy, assertiveness and competence in design thinking.