Discovering childcare providers’ coaching needs with design thinking techniques

Design thinking techniques, including empathetic interviews, provide a promising new methodology for enhancing the quality of childcare services. This human-centred approach seeks to address complex problems with a deliberate, thoughtful solution-seeking process [Brown, T. (2008, June). Design thinking. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from http://www.ideo.com/images/uploads/thoughts/IDEO_HBR_Design_Thinking.pdf]. This process includes several iterative phases: discovery, interpretation, ideation, experimentation, and evolution. Empathetic interviews were used to identify underlying needs of childcare providers and their technical assistance coaches. The empathetic interview and the prototype development processes used to address the needs of providers are detailed. This technique holds promise for those responsible for designing, implementing, and refining coaching services, as well as nurturing the relationships between those delivering childcare services and those providing technical assistance services. The implications of design thinking for coaching will be explored, and practical tips for implementing these techniques across contexts shared.