Course Title: Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2019

Course Code: EMPL7113C

Course Title: Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4386 - Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation

Course Contact: Ms Sylvia Baroutis

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5469

Course Contact Email: sylvia.baroutis@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

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

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop the habit of thinking in a more creative way through looking at things differently, musing, testing, experimenting and challenging existing thought patterns.

It applies to individuals who need to develop and extend their critical and creative thinking skills to different issues and situations and have a range of 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:

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 reinvent 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


1. Develop a questioning mindset   2. Generate ideas and responses   3. Challenge, test and reinvent ideas   4. Enhance creative thinking skills


Details of Learning Activities

   A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.   The self-paced activities will be delivered thought various technology platforms and include your contribution to discussion threads, reflective journals, quizzes and interactive sessions.   The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills.   We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities, many of the learning activities will be documented in your online journal and form part of your assessment.  

This course EMP7113C Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills is co-delivered and co-assessed holistically with BUSM8766C Develop a micro business proposal and EMPL7077C Develop work priorities. 

 


Teaching Schedule

 

Week

Topic

Readings and activities

Assessment

1

11 February

Orientation session:

Prior to training a program level orientation session is held that includes:

Program and assessment overview and requirements

Grading criteria/competency

Plagiarism

Appeals

Extensions

Feedback

Privacy

Submission requirements

Re-submission policy

Where to get support

Student responsibilities.

 

Introduction to this course:

How to use MyDesktop

Course requirements

Course support documents

Canvas

Accuracy of enrolment

Assessment requirements/cover sheets

Plagiarism

Appeals

Special consideration/Extensions/Resubmissions

Feedback in this course

Submission requirements

Getting help

The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course. This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities including the self - paced activities in the workbooks.

TOPIC: Creativity and asking questions

  

Journal entry

Knowledge quiz

2

18 February

Each week, from week 1 to 12, you will make a journal entry that documents your activities that you do in class and at home for that week. Activities that you undertake during the class will lead you to the Business Plan Document assessment and Shark Tank Presentation assessment. Along the way there will be a few short online Knowledge Check questions that will underpin your understanding of the knowledge in the course.

TOPIC: Mind mapping

 

 Journal entry

3

25 February

 

TOPIC: Critical and creative thinking

 

 

 Journal entry

Knowledge quiz

4

4 March

 

TOPIC: Micro business

 

 

 Journal entry

Knowledge quiz

5

11 March

 

TOPIC: SWOT analysis

 

 

Journal entry

Knowledge quiz

6

18 March

 

TOPIC: Work planning

 

 

Journal entry

Knowledge quiz

7

25 March

 

TOPIC: Professional development

 

 

Journal entry

Knowledge quiz

8

1 April

TOPIC: Risk ID and finance

 

Journal entry

Knowledge quiz

9

8 April

TOPIC: E-commerce and business planning

 

Journal entry

Knowledge quiz

10

15 April

19 April Mid-semester break – includes Easter and Anzac Day, 19 April public holiday

 

 

22 April

Easter Monday public holiday, 23 April Easter Tuesday, RMIT holiday, 25 April, Anzac Day public holiday (Thursday)

 

 

11

29 April

TOPIC: Creative and critical thinking 2

 

Journal entry

12

6 May

TOPIC: Presenting the shark tank

 

Journal entry

13

13 May

TOPIC: Presentation and business plan preparation

 

 

14

20 May

TOPIC: Presentation and business plan preparation

 

Business plan

15

27 May

TOPIC: Shark tank presentation

 

Shark tank presentation

16

3 June

Feedback and review. Conclusions and next steps.

 

 

17

18 June

Interviews and resubmissions if required

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

   

 


Overview of Assessment

In order to achieve competency in this unit, you must provide:

Evidence of the ability to:

  • ask relevant questions to challenge and enhance creative thinking
  • use various information sources to provide answers to own questions
  • use a range of creative thinking techniques to generate ideas or responses to questions or issues
  • record ideas in response to a predetermined issue or situation.

 Note: if a specific volume or frequency is not stated, then evidence must be provided at least once.

Knowledge Evidence

To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must:

  • explain why it is important to consider different perspectives when asking questions
  • list and describe different creative thinking techniques
  • describe common blockers to creative thinking,
  • explain boundaries that need to be considered when generating ideas and responses
  • describe ways of extending and developing individual creative thinking skills.

 Assessment Conditions

  • Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced in the creativity and innovation – critical thinking field of work and include access to specific challenges and situations to which creative thinking may be applied.

Feedback

Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions.  You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed.  Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.


Assessment Tasks

Task 1 – Journal entries (Weeks 1-12) Task 2 – Knowledge questions (Weeks 1, 3 -10) Task 3 – Business plan (Week 14) Task 4 – Shark Tank presentation (Week 15)


Assessment Matrix

Assessment task

BSBCRT301 Develop and extend critical and creative thinking skills

BSBSMB302 Develop a micro business proposal 

 

BSBRES404 Develop Work Priorities

 

Task 1 – Journal entries (Weeks 1-12)

X

X

X

Task 2 – Knowledge questions (Weeks 1, 3-10)

X

X

X

Task 3 – Business plan (Week 14)

 

X

 

Task 4 – Shark Tank presentation (Week 15)

X

X

X

Other Information

Submission Requirements

You Should:

  • Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date.
  • Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
  • When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of each assessment task is available on blackboard.

 

Late Submission Procedures:

You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.     If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.      More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work     Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf     Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.     More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration   Form to use:  http://mams.rmit.edu.au/m9yljqvw15di.pdf      Resubmissions (VET Programs):   If you are found to be unsuccessful in a particular Course Assessment Task (or you do not submit/attend) you will be allowed one resubmission.  Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission.   If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.     Grading & re-submissions:   Re-submissions do not contribute to your overall grade for the course. Adjustments to Assessment In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:   More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment   Marking Guide (Competency): You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.   You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.     Final Grades Table:   CA Competency Achieved  NYC Not Yet Competent DNS Did Not Submit for assessment    

Course Overview: Access Course Overview