SHIFT Program
SHIFT: Scholars in Human-Centered, Innovative, and Forward-Thinking Teaching
A professional learning series for educators ready to humanize learning and lead systemic change.
The Siebel Center for Design (SCD) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is proud to offer the Scholars in Human-Centered, Innovative, and Forward-thinking Teaching (SHIFT) Program. This initiative is designed to empower educators across Illinois with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to integrate Human-Centered Design (HCD) into their teaching practices.
SHIFT participants explore core HCD principles and their applications in education, culminating in the creation of a workshop, course, or program designed to teach HCD concepts. By tapping into SCD’s expertise, the program fosters innovation in teaching and strengthens collaboration among scholars statewide.
Three Formats – Same Philosophy, Different Depth
SHIFT
Deep Immersion | Cohort-Based | Applied Design Challenge
This flagship experience is a six-week cohort-based professional learning experience designed for educators who want to thoughtfully design or redesign learning experiences using Human-Centered Design (HCD). Through interactive sessions, collaborative discussions, and guided project work, participants will learn HCD principles and methods while applying them to an authentic learning experience from their own teaching or educational context.
- Six-week cohort experience (2-hour virtual sessions each week)
- Learn Human-Centered Design through hands-on practice
- Design or redesign an authentic learning experience
- Receive personalized coaching and peer feedback throughout the program
- Collaborate with a community of educators across disciplines
- Continue building your HCD practice beyond the program
Outcome: Master the full HCD process and apply it to create real, relevant change in your educational setting.
SHIFT Studio
Hands-On | Reflective | Immediate Takeaways
SHIFT Studio is a customized Human-Centered Design workshop that helps groups tackle a real challenge through a collaborative, facilitated design process. Whether your team is redesigning a course, improving a student experience, developing a new program, or addressing an organizational challenge, SHIFT Studio provides a structured space to understand stakeholders, generate ideas, and move toward actionable solutions.
- Customized for your department, program, or organization
- Focused on a real challenge identified by your group
- Available in person or virtually
- Minimum of three hours (longer engagements available)
- Interactive, collaborative, and hands-on
- Participants apply HCD methods throughout the workshop
- Agenda designed to meet your team's goals and timeline
Outcome
Leave with a prototype you can test and a new lens for approaching learning design.
SHIFT Spark
Introductory | Fast-Paced | Thought-Provoking
SHIFT Spark consists of short, highly interactive, virtual workshops that introduce participants to Human-Centered Design and demonstrate how it can be applied to teaching, research, and professional growth.
- Free, virtual 1–2 hour workshops
- Introduction to Human-Centered Design
- Highly interactive
- Practical tools you can use immediately
- Topics in teaching, research, and professional development
- Ideal starting point for your SHIFT journey
Outcome:
Understand HCD’s value in education and begin exploring how it could shift your own approach.