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Overview

Course Prescription

Application of inventive problem solving and creative thinking to formulate novel engineering solutions. Theories, tools and techniques to assist with generating innovative ideas. Techniques for improving the creativity of teams. Develops skills in the facilitation of workshops to help teams solve complex problems. Practical application of the concepts are synthesised to solve case study industry problems, and students’ individual scenarios.

Course Overview

Applied creative thinking is increasingly important in all walks of life. Whether it be the Arts, Science, Engineering, Business, or Politics, new and smarter ways of doing things are always in demand. Some people perceive that creativity is genetic, but there is significant research and practical evidence to confirm that a person's creativity can be improved by changes to the environment, mental state, and learned skills. This course is designed to provide an insight into how we can improve creativity in the workplace, giving a framework for the management of the creative process that doesn't rely on luck or chance discoveries.

The course is divided into six modules for the students to discover creative techniques, understand them, and apply them to an environment they are familiar with. In this way, they can test the ideas and critically review their effectiveness in an environment that is known/has a known history. To improve the learning outcomes, students will form groups of 2-3 people to discuss their own learnings and the results of their application. These can be compared and contrasted with other students' experiences to boost knowledge.

The modules are spread over the 12-week course, so a module should be completed every two weeks. At the midpoint of each module, there will be an online tutorial to answer any questions students have on the materials, their application experiences, for wider discussions, and for students to give feedback on any insights they have gained. The topics for the modules are:

1. Introduction to Applied Creative Thinking, creativity and problem solving

2. People, teams, and bias

3. Systems thinking, and the Theory of Constraints

4. TRIZ, SCAMPER and other systematic approaches

5. Lateral thinking and Idea generators

6. Facilitation, solving problems, and review

Delivery is via online materials, discussion groups, and tutorials. Attendance at tutorials is not mandatory but is highly encouraged to cement the learning. Contribution to tutorials and discussion boards forms part of the student assessment.

Students are expected to undertake considerable additional work per week reading, contributing to discussions, and completing assignments.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 150 hours working on each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 10 hours of tutorials, 60 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 80 hours of work on assignments.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Restriction

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
Auckland Online

Teaching and Learning

Online

Attendance is expected at scheduled online tutorials to receive credit for components of the course.
The online tutorials will be recorded.
Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement.
This course runs to the University semester/quarter timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

A full list of additional learning resources is available on the Auckland Online course website plus the Talis reading list.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Health and Safety

There are no special risks associated with this course. Students are encouraged to discuss any workload-related issues with the facilitator at the earliest possible time and to prepare their assignments from the start of the course, rather than waiting until the deadlines.

Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Other Information

Students will be notified of any changes.
Students should notify the tutor or coordinator of any concerns they have.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Additional Information on Academic integrity

Students are encouraged to submit draft work via the online facility on this course to check any of their assignments for plagiarism.

Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

A passing mark is 50% or higher, according to University policy.

It is possible to submit late for the assignments, and late submissions will be dealt with under the course policy published on Canvas.

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type12345

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

53% of students gave feedback on the previous course.  Their overall assessment was 4.5/5 (90%).  Based on student feedback, deadlines for assignments have been changed to Mondays from Fridays and the instructions further clarified.

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Additonal Information on Special Circumstances

Students are encouraged to plan their coursework submissions at the start of the course.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.