Academy - Design Thinking Workshop Facilitator; Michigan

2026 SMASH Academy – Design Thinking Workshop Facilitator (Michigan)

2 days ago – Be among the first 25 applicants.

At SMASH, we aim to build a strong STEM workforce through academic learning and experiential engagement for high school and college students. We empower dedicated students in STEM fields through intensive education, rigorous coursework, and access to resources, aiming to cultivate success in college and careers. Our vision is to create a STEM ecosystem where every student can thrive in the global economy, enriching communities and workplaces with well‑prepared, competitive leaders.

This is a pivotal time for SMASH as we build on the success of our programs. Working at SMASH is about rapid growth, grit, personal commitment, accountability, and courage to challenge the status quo. If you have what it takes to change the STEM landscape, we want to hear from you.

Reporting to the Program Director, the Design Thinking Workshop Facilitator will play an integral role in delivering and sustaining the transformative learning experience that SMASH Scholars need to pursue, persist, and succeed in STEM. The facilitator will co‑facilitate with one other facilitator, guiding a group of around 25 scholars through project‑based learning in Game Design. The role includes supporting both whole‑group and small‑group settings, fostering collaborative learning centered on the pedagogy of Play, Create, Share, and Reflect.

The ideal facilitator empowers scholars to take ownership of their learning journey, encouraging discovery and problem‑solving rather than providing direct answers. In addition to supporting technical skill development, facilitators help scholars build project management abilities, strengthen creative agency, and develop collaborative skills through activities such as play testing and peer feedback.

The facilitators do not need to be game designers; training, detailed session guides, and game‑design resources are provided. The most important qualities are a passion for supporting young learners, curiosity about game design, and willingness to problem‑solve alongside scholars, with an additional commitment to summer learning culminating in a final project presentation and the opportunity to win a national competition. This is a 3‑week assignment with additional training prior to launch, and a virtual close‑out.

Facilitators must have a personal computer with a working webcam, speaker, and microphone for video conferencing (Zoom, Google Hangouts, Cisco Webex), a reliable internet connection of at least 25 Mbps, and a quiet workspace. All staff and scholars must comply with SMASH's COVID‑19 policy for in‑person programming, including weekly testing and adherence to site‑specific requirements.

Onboarding – 27 June 2026 (virtual)
Staff Training – 29 June to 2 July (virtual)
On‑site at University of Michigan – 10 July
SMASH Academy – 13 July to 24 July (in‑person)
Virtual Close‑Out – 30 July

• Attend all training sessions.
• Adhere to the curriculum structure provided by SMASH.
• Facilitate Game Design Workshop sessions (1.5 hr sessions, 5 days per week) alternating between whole group, small group, and individual facilitation. Key tasks include:
  • Review material and prep ahead of each session.
  • Take attendance and communicate absences.
  • Guide conversation, ensuring all voices are heard.
  • Manage the space to keep the group on track.
  • Assess learning, provide feedback, and pivot as needed.
  • Collaborate with co‑facilitators to align activities and outcomes.
  • Log student achievement data weekly.
• Attend weekly staff meetings (1 hr per week).
• Attend staff close‑out.
• Ensure completion of deliverables: pre/post assessments, attendance, staff surveys, final inventory, etc.

• Collaboration:
  
  Exceptional listening, communication, and presentation skills; time‑management, organizational skills, timeliness, and candidness.
• Relationship Building:
  Welcome diversity, humility, patience, listening to multiple perspectives, and restorative conflict resolution.
• Problem Solving:
  Curiosity, innovation, iterative…