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 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.