Design Thinking for Deeper Student Learning - Henry Ford Learning Institute

Upcoming Workshops & Events

Conference Sessions

HFLI Summer 2026 Design Thinking for Student Learning

3-Day Workshop for Educators | Dearborn/Detroit MI

July 28, 29, and 30th (Tuesday through Thursday)

Details coming soon! Don’t miss our annual open enrollment workshop that engages educators and school leaders from a range of disciplines in a 3-day immersive Deeper Learning by Doing(R) experience. You will become more confident, skilled, and resourced, preparing you to create and facilitate powerful learning experiences for your students, and contribute to an environment of Shared Purpose, Shared Work, and Shared Joy in your learning community.

Deeper Learning 2026 | San Diego CA

Community Rap Sessions: Fostering Authentic Family & Community Partnership

Monday, March 30th (4:30-6:00pm) and Wednesday, April 1st (10:00-11:30am)

Too often, learning environments are created without the voices of the people

they are meant to serve. Imagine instead building authentic partnerships with families and communities—working together to identify needs, co-create solutions, and celebrate growth. If you’re a school leader seeking to strengthen these connections, join us to experience community rap sessions, a culturally responsive and restorative practice that elevates every voice.In this session, educators first engage as learners in an immersive rap session, then shift to exploring the structures and planning needed to bring this practice back to their schools. Together, we will examine how to make community rap sessions a routine way to engage families and community members. Participants will leave with strategies, artifacts, action steps, and greater confidence to lead authentically with their communities.

Webinars

BUILDING EDUCATOR & STUDENT WELLNESS: SHARED PURPOSE, SHARED WORK, SHARED JOY

Building Educator and Student Wellness: Shared Purpose, Shared Work, Shared Joy hosted by Ford NGL

Hosted by Ford NGL, in this webinar, HFLI’s Deborah Parizek (Executive Director) and Clare McKenna (Associate Director for Learning) facilitate a discussion that focuses on how to nurture authentic connections and wellness through shared purpose, shared work, and shared joy. Designed for educators, community members, and partners, this session focused on creating relationships that center student learning while supporting educators’ efforts. Gain insights and actionable ideas to strengthen wellness and drive transformative change in your education ecosystem.

Watch the Recording!

Here's what educators are saying
about our workshops

I enjoyed the approach where we were the learner first, and we were able to experience design thinking from the student perspective and build empathy for how they might feel going through this process.

This was one of the best workshops I have attended. I love how our ideas in the museum challenge were valued and felt like we might have an impact on the museum.

Now knowing how to navigate the steps of design thinking, I can’t wait to explore how it fits into various parts of my class and curriculum!

Awesome. No time wasted. We used every second of the day, each day.

You really brought in actionable ways to bridge the social-emotional learning gaps.

Wonderful workshop! I really enjoyed the laid-back feel and the professional ways our ideas were honored and questions were immediately addressed with care and genuine consideration.

This process will be really useful for helping to teach students how to think creatively and research effectively.

I like how the workshop went back and forth between concrete examples of how to use the process, then gave us the opportunity to engage in practicing the techniques.

This will help get students more involved in their learning, taking ownership of their work, and building teamwork between students.