Course Title: Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2019

Course Code: EMPL7112C

Course Title: Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

School: 320T Architecture & Urban Design

Campus: Brunswick Campus

Program: C4382 - Certificate IV in Design

Course Contact: Alistair Briggs

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 9446

Course Contact Email: alistair.briggs@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Frances Tatarovic

frances.tatarovic@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 required.

Course Description

In this course you will develop the skills and knowledge required to think in a more creative way. Creative and critical thinking involves looking at things differently, musing, testing, experimenting and challenging existing thought patterns. You will extend your problem solving, evaluation and analysis skills.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

BSBCRT301 Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

Element:

1 Develop a questioning mindset

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

2 Generate ideas and responses

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

3 Challenge, test and re invent ideas

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

4 Enhance creative thinking skills

Performance Criteria:

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


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities will take place in a studio and computer laboratory using industry standard tools and resources. You will complete exercises and industry style projects. You will also be required to undertake independent study. In-class activities will include:

  • class exercises
  • tutorials
  • practical demonstrations
  • workshops
  • group discussion
  • review and revision
  • peer learning
  • peer teaching and class presentations
  • teacher directed group activities/projects
  • workshopping of student projects including peer/lecturer feedback

 

Out of class activities may include:

  • independent research
  • independent project based work
  • studio practice
  • online tutorials and activities
  • review and revision


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.

There will be a number of prescribed tasks and projects (see Assessment Tasks below).

This course will be delivered in the same weekly session as GRAP5388 - Generate design solutions - BSBDES401. The following timeline contains activities for both courses.

Session

Session description

Assessments

Learning Elements

BSBCRT301

Learning Elements

BSBDES401

0

Orientation session

Content management and assessment.

 

1, 2, 4

1, 4

1

Course overview, Mind maps

Creating and using mind maps to generate ideas.

Assessment Project 1 folio of tasks Overview

Class exercise- MindMaps  add to google slides 

 

1, 2, 4

1, 4

2

Mind maps continued

Complete digital version of mind map. Use mind map to visualise at least two potential, different design solutions.

AT1-Digital  Mind Maps  add to google slides folio of tasks.

 

1, 2, 3

1, 4

3

Finish two currency designs

Action verbs - Introduction and exploration

Adopting a questioning mindset to look at a design problem and re-arrange it. AT1- Action verbs add to google slides folio of tasks.

 

     

4

Action verbs

Adopting a questioning mindset to look at a design problem and re-arrange it. AT1- Action verbs add to google slides folio of tasks.

 

3, 4

1, 2, 4

5

Mark making

Fill up a page with design visualisations to an assigned problem. Go outside of your usual environment and draw, draw, draw rather than inter-netting your way out of a problem. Record and reflect this process. AT1- Mark Marking add to google slides folio of tasks.

 

1, 2, 4

1, 4

6

Forced connections

Use the forced connections creative thinking exercise to come up with unusual ideas. Visualise a shortlist of ideas. AT1- Forced Connections add to google slides folio of tasks.

 

3

1, 4

7

Review week.

Coursework review for all classwork completed so far

 

3, 4

1, 4

8

Critical Questions

Creative thinking exercise to generate insightful questions to create a basic work plan/brief. 

 

3, 4

1, 4

9

Consolidation

Consolidate all documentation for this project. Re-draft and proof text. Improve, re-photograph or rescan images. Extend learning into further research; find a critical or creative thinking technique through research, and apply it to a supplied brief. Free exercise for those who are up-to-date with work.

 

4

1, 4

10

No Class - Public holiday

 

 

1, 2, 3, 4

1, 4

 

Mid-Semester Break

     

11

Project 1 wrap-up

Complete the folio of work, refining the quality of your images and redrafting any text. Complete a short reflection on this project. Choose your best work from Project 1 to upload to your folio.

Project 2 overview 
Artwork for two albums and process document

Read through the brief for Project 2. Extract critical questions. Target your research. Project 1 resubmission for unsatisfactory-standard work – by negotiation only.

DUE: Assessment Project 1. Critical/Creative folio 4-6 refined exercises. 

1, 2, 3, 4

1, 4

12

Secondary research

Get off the internet and look at some books. Then get back on the internet and find other resources. Then collate your research, and summarise it. Use Edward de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats to examine the problem.

   

1, 4

13

Creative thinking

Use a creative thinking exercise/s to generate original potential design solutions to the brief. Visualise them as sketches. Document this process.

   

1, 2, 4

14

Present your ideas.

Show your ideas to your peers as a visual presentation. Ask critical questions to generate constructive feedback. Use this feedback to select, modify and adapt one idea to bring to completion.

 

1, 2, 3, 4

2, 3, 4

15

Finalise design solution.

Determine the best idea from a range of possible design solutions for completion to a finished product. Review and refine.

.

 

1, 2, 3, 4

2, 3

16

Finalise design solution continued.

Determine the best idea from a range of possible design solutions for completion to a finished product.

 

4

3, 5

17

 Project 2 Submission

Complete your design idea to a finished, folio-ready stage. Complete the documentation of Project 2, readying it for submission.

DUE: Assessment Project 2 

Artwork for Album Covers and process document.

3, 4

3, 5

18

Resubmission - No classes
Respond to any feedback via Canvas and resubmit by negotiation only.

 

     
       

 

         

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References

Lupton, E 2011. Graphic design thinking : Beyond brainstorming (1st ed.). New York : Baltimore: Princeton Architectural Press ; Maryland Institute College of Art.

9781568989792

Mumaw, S 2014. Creativity Bootcamp, Lynda tutorial, viewed 23 June 2016, .


Other Resources

Prescribed Texts

There are no compulsory prescribed texts in this course. This course has recommended books listed under 'References'

Resources 

You are advised to look at the Learning Hub at myRMIT site for ongoing updated information. A range of learning resources and references are provided throughout the year.

You will require a personal storage device and tools as outlined in tool kit list.

RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through our online systems and access to specialised facilities and relevant software. You will also have access to the library resources.

Amongst the library's electronic resources is the ability to access Lynda.com for online tutorials and lessons. You may be given these tutorials (and other resources) to supplement your classroom learning. The University Library has extensive resources for Design students. The Library has produced a subject guide that includes quality online and print resources for your studies http://rmit.libguides.com/graphicartanddesign

The Library provides guides on academic referencing http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/referencing and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarian http://www.rmit.edu.au/library/librarians/dsc


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment tasks will require you demonstrate the application of knowledge and skills through practical projects and/or exercises and creative activities.
The assessment tasks are: Folio production and creative project/s

An assessment charter summarises your responsibilities as an RMIT student as well as those of your teachers.


Assessment Tasks

There are two assessment tasks. Feedback throughout the course may be written, verbal or a combination of both.

Both of the tasks must be completed/submitted. You are required to demonstrate all learning outcomes to a satisfactory standard to be deemed competent, with grading occurring after this.

Project 1: Critical/Creative folio

Complete the class exercises from weeks 1–9. Include all exercises for best potential results, or just your best four, in a folio of critical & creative thinking techniques. The aims are

  • Active participation in a range of creative thinking activities, including ability to ask relevant questions and to generate a range of ideas in response to a given situation or issue
  • Understanding of creativity and creative thinking at a basic level, including its impact and importance for individuals, communities and businesses
  • Knowledge and application of different creative thinking techniques and processes to a range of situations.
  • Development of a design solution through research, reflection and the generation and refinement of ideas
  • Effective collaboration with others in the design process
  • Knowledge of design trends and technologies in the relevant industry context.

Due week 11

Project 2: Design solutions

Redesign artwork for two assigned albums, and adapt the artwork for online music viewers. Complete a process document to record research, ideation, collaboration with others and the final outcome. The aims are

  • Active participation in a range of creative thinking activities, including ability to ask relevant questions and to generate a range of ideas in response to a given situation or issue
  • Understanding of creativity and creative thinking at a basic level, including its impact and importance for individuals, communities and businesses
  • Knowledge and application of different creative thinking techniques and processes to a range of situations.
  • Development of a design solution through research, reflection and the generation and refinement of ideas
  • Effective collaboration with others in the design process
  • Knowledge of design trends and technologies in the relevant industry context.

Due week 17

 

At the completion of the course, grading will be offered in addition to, and after, competency based assessment.

Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also use graded assessment are:
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

An assessment matrix demonstrating alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency is available from the course contact person (stated above).

Other Information

Attendance

The major aspect of your 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 for success.

 

Feedback

You will receive verbal and written feedback by teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects. 

 

Student Progress

Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy to assist you to achieve your learning potential. Student progress policy

 

 Submissions

When submitting work for assessment you are required to complete a declaration of authorship. This must be done for every summative assessment task. This statement acknowledges that you are aware of the plagiarism implications. For non-digital submission use the printed form provided. For digital online submission please use e Submission process. Information regarding the eSubmission process

 

 Special Consideration Policy, Late Submission & Extensions

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. Pick the following link for details on applying for Special consideration

Reasonable adjustment is available and may be applied through the Special Consideration process. Any student seeking an extension, should aim at doing so a minimum of 2 days before the deadline. Work submitted late and without an extension at any point will incur late penalties in accordance with university policy. If you require an extension you must complete an extension form with evidence supporting your application and hand this to your instructor. Further links  Application for extension of time

 

On Time Submission and Impact of Late Submission

On time submission is an important factor in your assessment. Employability skills are embedded in all courses and these include Planning & Organising and Self-management. For this reason, late work impacts on your overall grade for each assessment task.

The following adjustments for late submission will be made: Work submitted late will be assessed for competency only. Submissions are only permitted during the period that the competency is scheduled.

 

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 go to Academic Integrity. Academic Integrity

Credit Transfers and Recognition of Prior Learning
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).  Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.

Recognition of Current Competency (RCC).
RCC applies only if you have previously demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course

Course Overview: Access Course Overview