Proposed Measures for Fostering Design Thinking Competencies in Primary School Students in The Context of Vietnam's General Education Reform

Design Thinking (DT) is considered one of the essential competencies that should be developed for primary school students in the context of educational innovation and digital transformation. This study aims to analyze the current situation of developing design thinking for primary school students in Vietnam and to propose a system of specific measures to foster this competency through practical, creative, and problem-oriented learning activities. Based on theoretical research and practical analysis, the study proposes four key measures: (1) Organizing learning activities based on the design thinking model; (2) Enhancing experiential activities and project-based learning associated with real-life situations; (3) Creating a creative learning environment and encouraging students to experiment; and (4) Developing students’ skills in critical thinking, evaluation, and product improvement. The research findings confirm that these measures not only enable students to fully experience the essential components of the design thinking process (Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test, and Refine) but also contribute to fostering important competencies aligned with the requirements of competency-based education as outlined in the 2018 General Education Curriculum of Vietnam.