Innovation (INNO) 323 - Lecture 98
The Practice of Innovation
Winter 2007
Saturday, 1PM - 5PM  

Instructor:	Mr. Thomas Kenworthy, Pat MacDonald
Office Location:	SH 478
Office Phone:	TBD
E-Mail:	thomas.kenworthy@haskayne.ucalgary.ca; pat.macd@shaw.ca
Web Page:
Office Hours:	TBD

Course Description

Innovation 323 (INNO 323) is designed to inspire, stimulate and develop creativity by eliciting perception and playfulness. The intellectual underpinnings of INNO 323 are derived from knowledge in the field of creativity. The course is structured to stimulate imagination and enhance creative expression through participation in numerous creative contexts such as artistic performance (drumming, painting, and acting) and industrial design. Logical and analytical thinking styles are purposely suppressed in order to (provide an environment that may) enhance idea generation and exploration skills.

INNO 323 students learn by linking theoretical aspects of creativity with practice/performance. In this theory/self-discovery process, students use creativity tools to find problems. Eventually, the free and divergent (and sometimes uncomfortable) process transitions into problem solving.

From the first class onward, Innovation 323 students are immersed in a creative and flexible environment that includes 1) interaction with, and mentorship by, creative and innovative guests/experts and 2) exposure to a variety of creative materials. The guests (artists, entrepreneurs, designers and academics) will be involved to differing degrees; some will work with the entire class and some will be project-specific. In this way, student learning occurs through trial and error with expert guidance.

Objectives of the Course

One of the main expectations in the contemporary workplace and economy is the need for creative employees and entrepreneurs, respectively. Employers argue the need for creative university graduates. Scholars proclaim the importance of creativity for entrepreneurial business success. However, there are many, many unanswered questions such as ‘can creativity be enhanced?’ and ‘what are the key drivers of group creativity?’ In Innovation 323, the instructors take the position that creative thinking styles are accessible (i.e. pre-existing, to varying degrees) to all students, but need to be fostered in some cases more than others.

The Innovation 323 objectives are broken down into three levels: general, teaching and specific.

The general objective is:

To provide a safe and comfortable environment for students to explore their creativity.

The teaching objectives are:

1. To discuss the concept of creativity and its domains; 2. To expose students to current creativity knowledge and managerial implications; and, 3. To discuss the methods for enhancing creativity.

The specific objectives are broken down into content, skill and situational objectives:

Content: Greater knowledge about creativity, individual and group

Skill: Improved ability to generate ideas Improved ability to conduct fieldwork (research) sessions Improved ability to communicate and develop professional networks

Situational: Increased confidence, tolerance of ambiguity and comfort with uncertainty Increased self-awareness regarding creative skills and intuition

Textbooks and Readings:

Reading materials will be provided in advance by the instructors. If you do not receive them in class, extra copies will be available in the instructor’s mailbox (ENTI Area, 4th Floor of Scurfield hall)

PowerPoint Lecture slides will be placed on Blackboard prior to each class.

Assignments and Evaluation

It is the student's responsibility to keep a copy of each submitted assignment.

#1] "Product Feedback", 20% - Individual, Due January 24, 2007 (noon) #2] "Creativity Assignment", 20% - Individual, Due February 7, 2007 (noon) #3] "Personal Statement", 15% - Individual, Due April 9, 2007 (noon) #4] "Observer Report", 5% - Individual, Due The Friday following each class* #5] "Final Project", 30% - Group, Due April 6, 2007 (noon) #6] "Final Presentation", 10% - Group, Due March 24, 2007 (1-5PM)

*Each student submits only one of these during the semester.

Note: Please return assignments directly to the instructor's mailbox. The mailbox is located on the fourth floor of Scurfield Hall (in Haskayne School of Business) in the ENTI Area. ENTI is an acronym for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The ENTI Area is open Monday to Friday from 8:30AM - 4:30PM.

Registrar-scheduled Final Examination: No

Please note: If your class is held in the evening, the Registrar's Office will make every attempt to schedule the final exam during the evening; however, there is NO guarantee that the exam will NOT be scheduled during the day.

Policy for Late Assignments

Assignments submitted after the deadline may be penalized with the loss of a grade (e.g.: A- to B+) for each day late.

Writing Skills Statement

Faculty policy directs that all written assignments (including, although to a lesser extent, written exam responses) will be assessed at least partly on writing skills. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Writing skills include not only surface correctness (grammar, punctuation, sentence structure, etc) but also general clarity and organization. Research papers must be properly documented.

If you wish help with your writing at any stage, including drafts, you are invited to contact the Writing Centre, SS110, 220-7255.

Grading System

The following grading system is used in the Faculty of Communication and Culture:

A+ (96-100); A (92-95); A- (86-91); B+ (81-85); B (77-80); B- (71-76);
C+ (65-70); C (62-64); C- (59-61); D+ (55-58); D (50-54); F (0-49)

 

Plagiarism

Using any source whatsoever without clearly documenting it is a serious academic offense. For details see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info. Consequences include failure on the assignment, failure in the course and possibly suspension or expulsion from the university.

You must document not only direct quotations but also paraphrases and ideas where they appear in your text. A reference list at the end is insufficient by itself. Readers must be able to tell exactly where your words and ideas end and other people’s words and ideas begin. This includes assignments submitted in non-traditional formats such as Web pages or visual media, and material taken from such sources.

Please consult your instructor or the Writing Centre (SS110) if you have any questions regarding how to document sources.

Students with Disabilities

If you are a student with a disability who may require academic accommodation, it is your responsibility to register with the Disability Resource Centre (220-8237) and discuss your needs with your instructor no later than fourteen (14) days after the start of the course.

Students' Union

For details about the current Students' Union contacts for the Faculty of Communication and Culture see www.comcul.ucalgary.ca/info

"SAFEWALK" Program -- 220-5333

Campus Security will escort individuals day or night -- call 220-5333 for assistance. Use any campus phone, emergency phone or the yellow phone located at most parking lot booths.

Schedule of Lectures and Readings

To be handed out in class.