With increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making, higher education institutions must find innovative yet cost-effective ways to collect and analyze departmental data. This workshop explores how design thinking, with its human-centered approach, can ensure that faculty, staff, and students remain at the core of the decision-making processes, especially in the thick of AI usage. Participants will engage in hands-on activities using design thinking principles with user-centered approaches that balance efficiency with ethical considerations and AI usage. By the end of the session, educators will leave with practical strategies for leveraging AI responsibly within their departments, ensuring that technology enhances—not replaces—human expertise in shaping solutions.
