ACG708 - Design Thinking and Problem Solving
Unit details
Year: | 2024 unit information |
---|---|
Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Online |
Credit point(s): | 1 |
EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Russell Kennedy |
Cohort rule: | Nil |
Prerequisite: | Nil |
Corequisite: | Nil |
Incompatible with: | Nil |
Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site. |
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | 1 x 2-hour seminar per week |
Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Online independent and collaborative learning activities including weekly engagement with materials |
Content
This unit will investigate ‘design thinking’ as a strategic methodology and problem solving process. Taking a multidiscipline/interdisciplinary approach, students will be required to use ‘design thinking’ as a problem solving process, which taps into processes that have been traditionally overlooked in favour of more conventional problem solving practices. ‘Design thinking’ also allows people who are not trained as designers to use creative tools to address a vast range of challenges. ‘Design thinking’ methods will require students to adopt a human-centered approach to innovation that draws on their skills to integrate the needs of people, the possibilities of technology, and the requirements of business and society as a whole. Students will be placed in teams and will use ‘Design Thinking’ methods in an attempt to solve a ‘wicked problem’.
ULO | These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes |
---|---|---|
ULO1 | Demonstrate advanced discipline specific knowledge and capabilities. Research, plan and produce solutions by employing ‘design thinking’ processes | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
ULO2 | Demonstrate sophisticated and effective communication skills using a range of methods and media. Transmit ideas, analysis, findings and strategies through advanced written and oral presentation. Report on findings, which include recommendations to advance the process | GLO2: Communication |
ULO3 | Employ a range of specialist skills using ‘design thinking’ processes to source, analyse, generate and disseminate ideas to an advanced level. Develop a method to involve the public in the process (web site, public meeting, survey, prototype testing) | GLO3: Digital literacy |
ULO4 | Acquire advanced skills in the critical evaluation of contemporary practices and judgement of the role disciplines can play in ‘design thinking’ strategy. Apply participatory methods (workshop) to establish a brief and to explore potential solutions to identified problems | GLO4: Critical thinking |
Assessment
Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
---|---|---|---|
Assessment 1: Research Exercise - discover, discuss and present different design thinking models, methodologies and practice methods | 1500 words or equivalent | 30% | Week 4 |
Assessment 2: (Group of 4-5 students) Project Proposal - 5-step design thinking workshop | 1500 words or equivalent | 30% | Week 9 |
Assessment 3: Final report of process - Analysing, evaluating and reflecting on a design thinking workshop | 2000 words or equivalent | 40% | Week 11 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning Resource
The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via ACG708
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.