IA20010 Creative Thinking & Innovation

Academic Year 2020/2021

***All UCD Innovation Academy modules are delivered online in the 2020/21 Academic Year. Classes will run from 9.30am –4.30pm each day with a combination of live online classes, self-directed learning and group activities. See https://www.innovators.ie/undergraduate-electives/ for more info and testimonials from our students.***

'Creative Thinking & Innovation' at the Innovation Academy will increase your creative thinking skills, problem solving skills, team-working skills, design thinking and lateral thinking abilities through hands on exercises, tasks and challenges.

Over the course of the module, you will actively engage in developing creative solutions to problems and learn methods to critically evaluate these solutions. You will practice the art of storytelling through pitching ideas, making videos and creating and delivering presentations.

As part of this module, you will work in a multidisciplinary team on a real-world problem set by an external organisation. This opportunity to experience real-world learning in innovative online working environments is invaluable for students.

This module is suitable for students from any discipline, and for those with little or no prior experience of creativity or innovation processes, as well as those who know the basics but want to develop further.


Timetable and Schedule

This module is offered online only. There will be a mix of live online facilitated classes and teamwork and individual tasks to be completed outside of the live classes.

https://www.innovators.ie/undergraduate-electives/ 

UCD Innovation Academy

At the UCD Innovation Academy, we are a group of Educator Practitioners with extensive real-world experience as academics, business and social entrepreneurs, tech thinkers, creative professionals and design thinking practitioners.

We take an action-oriented approach to learning, with a combination of individual, group and class tasks and activities, including discussions, presentations and reflection. All of our teaching is grounded in academic rigour, but our focus is on ‘learning by doing’ in a real-world context.

**Enrolment in an Innovation Academy module means a commitment to active participation and engagement, which necessitates attendance at all scheduled classes**

www.innovators.ie

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completion students should be able to:

• Understand the relevance and importance of creative thinking and how it can be applied in a variety of disciplines to generate solutions
• Use problem-solving tools and techniques and understand the process for initiating and using creative techniques within project structures
• Combine a variety of different techniques to approach problems that will ensure they have fully investigated the root issues associated with the problem
• Understand the dynamics of teamwork, the different roles required in teams and effective teamworking skills
• Develop their visual and verbal communication skills
• Learn how to give and receive feedback
• Practice personal reflection as a tool for continuous self improvement

Indicative Module Content:

• Creative Thinking: Exploring creativity through tasks, techniques and discussion
• Innovation Sprint: Solving real-world problems set by host organisations
• Idea Generation Techniques & Ideation Tools
• Design Thinking
• De Bono Thinking Methods
• Narrative Structure for Pitching and Presenting
• Teamwork Frameworks: Theory and Practice
• Tools for Reflective Practice

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Small Group

20
Practical

8
Specified Learning Activities

40
Autonomous Student Learning

40
Total

120
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
All Innovation Academy modules take a 'learning by doing' approach, combining individual, and group activities and tasks including presentations, discussion and reflection. Guest speakers will share their own experiences and lessons learnt.

• Active/task-based learning
• Real-world challenges set by host organisations
• Peer and Group work
• Reflective Learning
• Enquiry & Problem-based learning
• Student Presentations

 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
IA40430 - Creativity & Innovation


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Attendance: This module requires active participation and engagement, which necessitates attendance at ALL scheduled classes. (80% attendance is required to pass this component.) Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes

40
Presentation: Team Project Presentation Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes

20
Assignment: Reflection Report Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes

20
Continuous Assessment: Online and offline tasks and activities Throughout the Trimester n/a Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes

20

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Remediation Type Remediation Timing
Repeat Within Two Trimesters
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback can be given to students upon request. This may include feedback on their participation during the module and/or their deliverables.

Name Role
Ms Clare Mulvany Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Jacinta Owens Lecturer / Co-Lecturer