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, in collaboration with the Illinois Innovation Network (IIN), 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. Through a combination of SCD’s expertise and IIN’s expansive network, the program fosters innovation in teaching and strengthens collaboration among scholars statewide.
Three Formats – Same Philosophy, Different Depth
SHIFT Max
Deep Immersion | Cohort-Based | Applied Design Challenge
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.
- Weekly live sessions + applied work (~3–4 hrs/week total)
- In-person kickoff and closing sessions
- Includes full design sprint and capstone-style project
- Ideal for faculty champions, program designers, and institutional innovators
- Participants leave with a portfolio-ready prototype and implementation plan
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
This full-day intensive introduces key concepts and practices of human-centered design through a focused design sprint. Participants identify a real challenge in their teaching, explore learner perspectives, and prototype a small-scale intervention—all in one energizing day.
- ~6 hours in length
- Tools: empathy mapping, HMW statements, ideation, and low-fi prototyping
- Designed to spark ideas and deepen teaching practice
- Great for departments, retreats, or catalyst events
Outcome
Leave with a prototype you can test and a new lens for approaching learning design.
SHIFT Spark (Half-Day Session)
Introductory | Fast-Paced | Thought-Provoking
This bite-sized session is designed to plant the seed of human-centered thinking in educational spaces. Through a compact series of reflective and creative exercises, participants get a taste of the SHIFT mindset and walk away with one actionable idea they can bring into their classroom or curriculum.
- 2 hour workshop
- Lightly facilitated, no prior experience needed
- Perfect for sparking interest across a broader faculty audience
Outcome:
Understand HCD’s value in education and begin exploring how it could shift your own approach.
SHIFT Max
Deep Immersion | Cohort-Based | Applied Design Challenge
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.
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, Illinois Innovation Network will cover the cost of two participants per hub
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
Sign up now to join the Spring 2026 cohort. Deadline to apply is January 9.
Sign Up
Weekly Topics
SHIFT Studio
Hands-On | Reflective | Immediate Takeaways
SHIFT Studio is a full day, hands-on workshop that introduces educators to human-centered design - a creative, empathy-driven approach to problem solving. Designed for instructors, curriculum designers, and academic professionals, this session offers practical tools and strategies to help participants explore new ways to shape learning experiences and be responsive to students.
Participants will engage in interactive activities, reflect on their own educational contexts, and experiment with human-centered design tools that can be adapted for use in classrooms, programs, or student services.
Format
- ~6 hours total
- Tools introduced: empathy mapping, HMW statements, ideation techniques, and low-fidelity prototyping
- Designed to spark new ideas and deepen teaching practice
- Great for departments, retreats, or catalyst events
- Cost is $250 per participant, plus travel expenses if applicable
What You’ll Gain
- A clear introduction to human-centered design and its relevance to education
- Explore tools like empathy maps, journey maps, and “How Might We” questions and connect them to your contexts
- Ideas for how to bring human-centered thinking into your teaching or academic work
Schedule your department or institution's SHIFT Studio or enroll in an already scheduled Studio session.
Sample Schedule
SHIFT offers an approachable, engaging introduction to a mindset that puts students at the center of educational design—no design experience required.
SHIFT Spark (Half-Day Session)
Introductory | Fast-Paced | Thought-Provoking
This bite-sized session is designed to plant the seed of human-centered thinking in educational spaces. Through a compact series of reflective and creative exercises, participants get a taste of the SHIFT mindset and walk away with one actionable idea they can bring into their classroom or curriculum.
Format
- 2 hours
- No prior experience needed
- Perfect for sparking interest among broader faculty audiences
Learning Outcomes
- Gain a foundational understanding of HCD in educational contexts
- Identify one challenge in their current practice
- Use simple tools to explore learner perspectives and reframe their challenge
- Prototype a small shift or new idea
- Receive feedback and reflect on next steps