Design-Thinking Tools for Students

Minimalist mind mapping to organize ideas

Bottom Line: Easy-to-use idea organizer can help with simple mind mapping.

Multifaceted interactive whiteboard promotes collaboration

Bottom Line: Mural facilitates lesson presentation and group project collaboration from anywhere by making idea sharing a simple, visual process.

Enjoyable and practical design tool supports creators of all ages

Bottom Line: Beautiful templates and user-friendly tools empower students to turn their creative ideas into professional-looking media.

Create mobile apps with extensive help from start to finish

Bottom Line: Intuitive platform encourages students to engage in design thinking and coding with loads of support.

Beautifully designed digital sketchbook for any age

Bottom Line: The simplicity and effectiveness of the app make this a powerful sketch and note-taking tool for the iPad.

Intuitive editor helps users create and share dynamic visual diagrams

Bottom Line: Students and teachers can use this tool alone or collaboratively to build and share stunning, effective visuals that stretch thinking.

Think in pictures with vibrant visual language everyone can understand

Bottom Line: It's a neat, well-executed concept with lots of possibilities for learning, imagining, and creating.

Powerful mind mapper aimed at adults, simple enough for older kids

Bottom Line: Sophisticated productivity tool enhances learning and organization with simple dashboard and slick workspace.

Collaborate, brainstorm in real time with easy-to-use online whiteboard

Bottom Line: A versatile, full-featured online brainstorming collaboration tool that can facilitate small-group projects.

Build slick, engaging whiteboard animations with Web-based tool

Bottom Line: A stellar -- if somewhat pricey -- creation tool for the classroom.

Make learning meaningful through 3D design

Bottom Line: SketchUp is a fantastic, subject-agnostic tool that does take time to learn but helps students gain truly useful, transferable skills.

Impressive creation tool for teens serious about art

Bottom Line: Gives students easy access to professional tools for creating digital art.

Flexible app transforms sketches into pro-level designs and diagrams

Bottom Line: A terrific choice for creating simple diagrams or presentations on iOS.

Stellar 3D design hub promotes innovation, collaboration, and creation

Bottom Line: This is a great design and creation tool that teachers and students can use to be innovative and share ideas with a vibrant community of makers.

Fun engineering problems encourage classroom competition, innovation

Bottom Line: Design Squad Global makes learning STEAM concepts fun through hands-on activities and easy-to-understand scientific explanations.

Design, build, and share new things offline and online

Bottom Line: DIY motivates kids to tackle a wide range of problems with independent and scientific thinking.

Amazingly simple yet powerful online CAD tool turns kids into makers

Bottom Line: Full-featured site and app make iterative 3D design accessible, social, and relevant.

Middle school CS curriculum has stellar resources, room for creativity

Bottom Line: A high-quality introductory CS curriculum where students can be creative, collaborate with others, and express themselves, in the classroom or at home.

Projects inspire creativity; a place for kids' sharing would boost fun

Bottom Line: A go-to site for teachers looking for well-presented project ideas; kids will need opportunities to share work locally.

Free animated series and companion materials bring problem-solving to life

Bottom Line: If teachers go beyond the videos and worksheets, students can apply what they learn to hands-on, collaborative problem-solving projects.

Design, analyze, and then build STEM applications

Bottom Line: Complete learning modules include simple CAD design simulation tools, a digital competition, and options for hands-on building.

Endless collection of DIY projects; good for sharing and inspiration

Bottom Line: User-generated projects inspire sharing and learning, though more refined navigation would make it easier to sift through all the great ideas.