Course Title: Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2013

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

 

Viv Weir
9925-8012
Viv.weir@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 practise 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

 

Week       
Class content   Elements
 Week 1 Introduction to course
Assessment outline
Communication model and its impact in the workplace
Challenging own thought patterns
              BSBCRT301A
1.2, 1.3,
 
 Week 2 Questioning styles
Exploring sources of information
Defining creativity
Benefits of creative thinking
  1.1 - 1.4
2.1
 
 Week 3 Problem solving
Risk taking
  2.1 - 2.9
 Week 4 Group decision making Formative assessment – Group decision making exercise 2.1-  2.9
 Week 5

Brainstorming/round robin brainstorming
Day dreaming

  2.1 - 2.9
 Week 6

Organisational cultures
Blocks to creative thinking
Metaphors/analogies

Formative assessment - Submission of workplace log 2.1 - 2.9
 Week 7

Visualisations
Word salads
Inductive/deductive/lateral thinking

  2.1 - 2.9
 Week 8 Mind mapping   2.1 - 2.9
 Week 9 Tree diagrams
Cause and effect diagrams
  2.1 - 2.9
Week 10 Assessment - in class Summative assessment - Case study  
Week 11 Discussion boards   2.1 - 2.9
Week 12 Edward de Bono’s six thinking hats   2.1 - 2.9
Week 13 Testing ideas
Exploring alternatives
Evaluating alternatives
Summative assessment - Group presentation 3.1 -3 .4
Week 14 Relate creative ideas/options to the workplace   3.1 - 3.4
4.1 - 4.4
Week 15

Work on final assessment
Role plays

 Summative assessment - Role play  
Week 16  Role plays Summative assessment - Role play 1.1 - 1.4
2.1 - 2.9
3.1 - 3.4
4.1 - 4.4
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Class notes
 


References

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


Other Resources

None required


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will include both individual and group creative thinking exercises


 


Assessment Tasks


Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks. Summative assessment tasks in this unit are graded.
For further information on the assessment and grading criteria, please refer to the course Blackboard site.

To demonstrate competency in this course, you need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard.

Formative Assessment:-
1 Group decision making exercises
2. Portfolio of workplace evidence

Summative Assessment:-
1. Case study
2. Group presentation
3. Role play

For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course Blackboard site.

Grades used in this unit are as follows:

Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also use graded assessment:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
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

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

Cover Sheet for Submissions
All students must complete a submission cover sheet for each piece of submitted work.

Plagiarism 
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. For more information on this policy go to Academic Integrity

Copyright
All students have access to the myRMIT copyright shell. The myRMIT copyright shell contains information on copyright, plus also examples on how to use copyright works as part of your projects and assignments.

Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
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 extension. Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration/online

Student Progress Committee
This committee promotes the early identification of students who are not achieving acceptable academic performance. The committee provides identified students with assistance and seeks to ensure such students are aware of the range of support services available to them at the University. Student Progress Committee (SPC)

Student Feedback
Students are offered opportunities to provide feedback through a variety of mechanisms including online surveys conducted at the end of each course or semester, student complaints and Student Staff Consultative Committees
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview