Course Title: Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2015

Course Code: EMPL5890C

Course Title: Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4295 - Certificate IV in Screen and Media

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Rowan Humphrey

rowan.humphrey@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 40

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

In this course you will gain skills and knowledge required to develop methods for thinking in a more creative way.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBCRT301A Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

Element:

1. Develop a questioning mindset

Performance Criteria:

1.1
Develop the habit of asking questions from different perspectives
1.2
Take responsibility for exploring a variety of information sources to provide relevant answers to own questions
1.3
Sort through information and ideas to identify the central questions, issues and challenges
1.4
Challenge preconceptions and assumptions to determine actual constraints in defining a problem for resolution
 

Element:

2. Generate ideas and responses

Performance Criteria:

2.1
Explore and use a range of creative thinking techniques to generate ideas and responses
2.2
Muse on, play around with and have fun with ideas in relation to a perceived objective
2.3
Identify and challenge blockers to creative thinking
2.4
Consider and explore realities beyond the current situation
2.5
Evaluate, and where appropriate, challenge existing boundaries to determine perceived or actual constraints
2.6
Show willingness to take risks with ideas and thought processes
2.7
Look around in familiar and unfamiliar places for new inspiration and habitually record observations, experiences, ideas and reflective thoughts to broaden personal knowledge base
2.8
Acknowledge and accept the opportunity for revelation when least expected
2.9
Identify connections and associations from things that seem unconnected
 

Element:

3. Challenge, test and re invent ideas

Performance Criteria:

3.1
Identify, interrogate and challenge the assumptions behind ideas
3.2
Experiment with variations, and explore and challenge a range of different solutions and ideas
3.3
Consciously change perspectives, and evaluate ideas and situations in new ways
3.4
Where appropriate, involve others in ideas and how they might change or be improved
 

Element:

4. Enhance creative thinking skills

Performance Criteria:

4.1
Consciously challenge and question own thought patterns and ways of responding to work and life situations
4.2
Identify and take opportunities to self-assess and to learn about new ideas and different ways of thinking
4.3
Take opportunities to practice and experiment with creative thinking techniques across work and life situations
4.4
Pro-actively talk to others about ways that new ideas and patterns of thinking can be encouraged and developed
 


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to use a range of skills to develop different creative options for workplace situations


Details of Learning Activities


Learning activities will consist of:

In-class activities including:-
Class discussions
Class presentations
Workshopping
Group work

Out-of-class activities including: -
Online research
Independent project based work

 


 


Teaching Schedule

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources

Week       
Class content  Assessment  
 Week 1

 Developing a questioning mindset.
Collaboratively participate in preproduction process for 24 Melbourne productions to review and critically analyse Rundowns for segments. In this class we will begin to develop the habit of asking questions from different perspectives. You will take responsibility for exploring a variety of information sources to provide relevant answers to your own questions.

Using a range of organisational methods we will systematically sort through information and ideas in production rundowns and segment briefs to identify the central questions, issues and challenges. Finally, we will challenge preconceptions and assumptions to determine actual constraints in defining a problem for resolution.

               
 
 Week 2

Generate ideas and responses and challenge, test and reinvent ideas. This week we will explore and use a range of Creative thinking techniques to generate ideas and responses. You will muse on, play around with and have fun with ideas in relation to a perceived objective, which is to critically analyse your own production for 24 Melbourne.

 


 

 Week 3

 

Identify and challenge blockers to creative thinking. We will unpack the blockers in the list below. Are there realities beyond the current situation? We will challenge the existing boundaries to reveal if they are actual or perceived. Using familiar and unfamiliar places we will look for inspiration. Were do you go? What’s there for you? Where have you never been? Go somewhere and record what you experience.
Consider revelations (surprises) and associations (recognition).

 

 
 
 Week 4  Challenge, test and reinvent ideas. What assumptions have we simply accepted? Can these be varied? Using a technique from our list can we reevaluate ideas and in the process allow others to influence us?
Enhance creative thinking skills. In this session we will look at methods to consciously challenge or question our thought patterns and ways of responding to work and life situations. We will self assess and learn about new ideas and different ways of thinking. By creating opportunities to practice and/or experiment with Creative thinking techniques we will proactively engage with others to encourage and develop new ideas and patterns of thinking
   
 Week 5  Assessment Task 1 of 2. In class presentations of your (2) selected techniques. What is the technique called? What steps do I take to follow the technique? How does the technique work?  Task 1  
 Week 6

 

Assessment 2 of 2 Production meeting at 4-30pm. Creatively review 24 Melbourne segments following the meeting/agenda
Use one method to critically and creatively analyse/review a segment of 24 Melbourne. This assessment can be completed on Monday mornings or Wednesday mornings and Afternoons by calling the meeting and completing the minutes.
Each week one topic/method will selected for expanding upon with additional exercises

 

 Task 2  
 Week 7

Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop.

 Task 2  
 Week 8 Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop.  Task 2  
 Week 9 Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop.  Task 2  
Week 10 Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop. Task 2
 
Week 11 Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop.  Task 2  
Week 12 Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop.  Task 2  
Week 13 Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop.  Task 2  
Week 14 Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop.  Task 2  
Week 15

Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop.

 Task 2
 
Week 16  Assessment 2 of 2 and selected method expansion workshop.  Task 2  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Class notes
 


References

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information.


Other Resources

It is recommended that you have a pen and notebook to take notes.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will include both individual and group creative thinking exercises


 


Assessment Tasks

This unit of competency is assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment. To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete the following assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.
You should refer to the assessment brief which is available on Blackboard for full details of these assessment tasks.


Assessment:-

1 Deliver an in-class presentations of your (2) selected creative thinking techniques. Consider the following in your presentation: What is the technique called? What steps do you take to follow the technique? How does the technique work? Assessment is condicted in Week 5

2. Creatively review segments of 24 Melbourne following the meeting/agenda. Assessment is conducted in Weeks 6 - 16
For further information on the criteria used to assess, please refer to the course Blackboard site.

Final results that apply to courses delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment:

  • CA: Competency Achieved
  • NYC: Not Yet Competent
  • DNS: Did Not Submit for Assessment
     


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration
 

Other Information

 Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: rmit.edu.au/students

Cover Sheet for Submissions:
You must complete and sign a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions.

Attendance:
The major learning experience involves studio based exercises, demonstration and production. It is strongly advised that you attend all sessions in order to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring the maximum opportunity to gain the competency.

Assessment Feedback:
Assessment feedback is used to enable and enhance student learning. You will receive spoken and/or written feedback on your work. Where appropriate, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can improve your work. www1.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qwxbqbg739rl1

Student Progress:
Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. www1.rmit.edu.au/students/acadprogress

Assessment:
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. To support student success, RMIT University provides a range of adjustments to assessment. www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/adjustment


Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:

RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy. www1.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:
You may be eligible for credit towards this course if you have already met the learning/competency outcomes through previous learning. You can find out more about this process on the RMIT website.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview