CI:

Class Schedule

CI 101 Class Schedule 2017

T 9:25-12:05  Rm. S1125

A Way of Thinking. A Way of Doing.

Week 1

9/12          

Part I:

Syllabus, format of class, materials.

Introduction to "A Creative Process"

Wearable "fashion accessory" (Individual project)

Part II:          

Scientist? Artist. Pirate! video http://video.pbs.org/video/2365555109/

Discuss video with regard to "a creative process" and the place of creativity and innovation in our lives. Ways of "being creative".

Home:           

List of non-academic, practical skills that you can do. See assignment sheet.

Watch John Cleese on Creativity video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb5oIIPO62g

John Cleese Assignment (See assignment sheet).

Week 2

9/19          

Warmup:      

Paper cutting and folding project (Individual)

Due:           

Practical, non-academic skills lists. John Cleese Assignment.

Part I:

Share  Practical, non-academic skills          

Applying the creative process. Assign in-class groups.

Basic building kits.

Build a Machine for a Simple Task. (group, timed, observed, prize)     

Part II:           

Present Machine for a Simple Task.

Discuss: "Process Observer" reports, group dynamics, time limits, open mode and closed mode.

Home:           

Mystery of Easter Island Video Project: Watch video and write an outline of how the scientists and their team apply the creative process in their work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eR2lXZqPCkE

Week 3

9/26     

Warmup:      

Ideation: 30 circles project. (Collaboration and Idea Flow)

Due:           

Mystery of Easter Island Video Project

Part I:           

Discuss Mystery of Easter Island Video Project (briefly)

Assign 1st groups. Share contact info.

Working in groups: Ways to structure the group, critiques, prototyping, disagreements, presentations, etc.

Part II:           

Idea Mapping: group project—quick invention from natural objects.

Home:            

Bring in lots of photos of appliances AND scenes or elements from nature

Mental Mixology: Synthesis and Experimentation

Week 4          First Group Project

10/3     

Warmup:     

Aleatory Poems

Due:          

Nature and appliance research

Part I:           

Return and discuss Nova Video Assignment

Everything is Remix videos 1-4

Part II:            

In-class group project: Work on Appliances from Nature project.

Home:            

Work on Appliances from Nature group project.

Re-do Nova Video Assignment as needed.

Week 5

10/10     SUFFOLK MONDAY. CLASS CANCELLED

Problem Solving: Given Circumstances, Unknowns, and Context

Week 6            Second Group Project

10/17

Due:          

Appliances from Nature Group Project

Nova Video Project re-do

Part I:           

Present Appliances from Nature Group Projects

Part II:          

Assign Historical Figures project. Assign Groups and meet to discuss.

Home:           

Begin Historical Figures Group Project research: Meet with groups, pick three historical creator/ innovators, do some basic research on them and email me your choices before the end of the week. I will choose one of the three and email you back before class. See assignment sheet.

Week 7

10/24

Warmup:  

Nine Dots

Due:      

Preliminary research on your historical creator/innovator.   

Part I:           

Identifying the given circumstances and asking the right questions.

Group Ground plan problem: “A Small TV, Unrequited Love, and a Weasel.“  

Part II:           

Work in class on Historical Figures project. Assign Failure Autobiography.

Home:          

Failure Autobiography. See assignment sheet.

Week  8

10/31     

Warmup:        

Brief in-class group project (candle). Discussion

Due:           

Failure Autobiography.

Part I:           

In class group project: "A Better Product Experience". Use idea generation and idea mapping techniques.

Part II:          

Work in class on Historical Figures Project

Home:          

Continue to work on Historical Figures Group Project with your first group.

                                               Empathy

Week 9

11/7

Warmup:      

Listening: Story Circles

Due:           

Historical Figures Group Presentation and paper

Part I:          

Present Historical Figures Group Projects (5 min. each)

Part II:          

Empathy Maps.

Assign 3rd groups. Tea and Empathy Project

Home:        

T and Empathy Project: Take a ride on the T, preferably as a group, and

observe things that don't work well for some people: the elderly, children,      

mothers, handicapped persons, tall people, large people, etc.

Take photos, make sketches, even interview people.  See assignment sheet.

               Empathy Map link #1   Empathy Map link #2   Empathy Map link#3

Week 10

11/14     

Due:              

Progress on the T and Empathy Group Project

Part I:          

Empathy Maps Project in class. Local businesses and services.

Part II:          

Present empathy maps. Coordinate with groups about T and Empathy project

Home:          

Finish T and Empathy projects.

                                                          Putting it All Together     

Week 11         Fourth Group Project

11/21

Due:            

T and Empathy Projects

Part I:           

Present T and Empathy Projects

Part II:           

Assign 4th Groups.

Mystical Powers Project Assigned. (A simple machine for a complex project.)

Meet with groups.

Home:           

Review assignment sheet.

                    THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY 11/22 - 11/26

Week 12

11/28

Part I:           

Work on Mystical Powers Project in class: Discuss Mystical Powers Project with your group. Identify the design question, establish the given circumstances and the context of the project, identify the unknowns, gather information, explore possibilities, generate ideas.

Part II:           

Work on Mystical Powers Project in class: Make empathy maps for each stage of the "customers" experience you imagine they will go through (ie: Arriving at the facility, going through the facility, after being healed, etc.) These will be updated as you refine your design.

Week 13

12/5

Part I:            

Work on Mystical Powers Project in class

Part II:           

Work on Mystical Powers Project in class

Week 14

12/12

Part I:            

Midway Presentations of Mystical Powers Project in class.

Class critique

Part II:           

Work on Mystical Powers Project in class

Week 15

Part I:            

Work on Mystical Powers Project in class

Part II:           

Work on Mystical Powers Project in class

12/14  FINAL  

Present Mystical Powers Project and class discussion. (Pizza!)