Siebel Center for Design

SHIFT

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.

This flagship experience is for educators ready to integrate Human-Centered Design (HCD) into their teaching, curriculum, or academic programs in a meaningful and lasting way. Participants engage in weekly sessions that combine hands-on practice with systems-level reflection, culminating in a custom design challenge tailored to their context.

Deep Immersion | Cohort-Based | Applied Design Challenge

The next SHIFT cohort will be offered in Spring 2027. 

Applications to join this cohort will open in Fall 2026!

SHIFT offers an approachable, engaging introduction to a mindset that puts students at the center of educational design—no design experience required.

Format

  •  12 weeks total
  • Includes in-person kickoff and closing sessions
  • Weekly 2-hour live virtual sessions + 1–2 hours/week of applied work
  • Full design sprint + culminating design challenge
  • Ideal for faculty champions, program designers, and institutional innovators
  • Cost is $500 per participant

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand and articulate the SHIFT taxonomy (teach with, about, and through HCD)
  • Experience the full human-centered design process through a live design sprint
  • Apply HCD to a personalized educational challenge, creating a scalable prototype
  • Build confidence in using design tools for course design, pedagogy, assessment, and institutional change
  • Contribute to a growing community of practice and scholarship around human-centered teaching



Weekly Topics

Week Topic Description
1 Welcome & Introduction to HCD In-person kickoff session: overview of HCD in education, SHIFT framing, and community building
2 Design Sprint: Understand Empathy and contextual inquiry around a shared challenge
3 Design Sprint: Synthesis Tools for sensemaking, insight generation, and defining design opportunities
4 Design Sprint: Ideate & Prototype Creative ideation and low-fidelity prototyping of potential interventions
5 Integrating HCD into Collegiate Spaces Strategies for embedding HCD across departments, programs, and institutional structures
6 Designing Human-Centered Modules & Challenges Translating HCD into assignments, modules, and learning experiences
7 Designing Modules & Challenges (Part 2) Iteration, peer review, and refinement of designs
8 Facilitating & Assessing HCD Work Approaches to instruction, evaluation, and scaffolding student-led design
9 Teaching With HCD: Humanizing Practices Exploring empathy, care, and vulnerability in the classroom
10 Teaching With HCD: Continued Deepening reflective practice and connecting with inclusive pedagogies
11 Final Presentations + Group Feedback Participants share applied design projects and receive structured peer feedback
12 Final Celebration & Reflection In-person closing session: celebration, storytelling, and setting intentions for sustained impact