COAS I450 Summer I 2008—The Innovation Symposium
Indiana University Kokomo
Instructors Karla Farmer Stouse and Kathleen Ligocki
Innovation is not the product of logical thought, although the result
is tied to logical structure.
Albert Einstein
Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
Steve Jobs
The Purpose of This Course
This course was created to give our best and brightest thinkers an opportunity to analyze important innovations and create new approaches to address global and local issues. By examining writings on philanthropic, environmental, and technological innovations and by observing the innovations of others, you can begin to appreciate the processes, effects, and opportunities involved. You can then incorporate the insights of others with your own innovative thinking and actions to begin implementing positive change.
Why England?
England was chosen as the destination for this course because it is not only the modern historical seat of Western innovation (relatively speaking) but because it also offers a perfect microcosm of global issues requiring innovative approaches. In London, we’ll look at philanthropy and social/cultural issues. In Cornwall, we’ll look at environmental issues. In Harlaxton, we’ll look at technological issues. Throughout our stay, we will have access to excellent libraries and to individuals/ organizations on the leading edge of innovative change.
Course Goals
The readings, field experiences, and assignments in this course will give us the opportunity to fulfill these goals:
- examining global and local issues
- examining the innovative thinking and actions of others
- determining how positive change can occur
- creating innovative approaches to address global and local issues
Readings to be done prior to departure, with discussion meetings held during Spring 2008 semester
- The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman (will also be used in England)
- How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci and Discovering Your Genius by Michael J. Gelb
- The Creation of the Modern World: The Untold Story of the British Enlightenment by Roy Porter (will also be used in England)
Readings to be done in England
- High Noon: Twenty Global Problems, Twenty Years to Solve Them
by J. F. Rischard
- plus The World is Flat and The Creation of the Modern World
What Happens When
Orientations (prior to departure):
#1 (immediately after selection process is completed)—
- Expectations for course
- Preparing for overseas travel (passports, insurance, money exchange, packing requirements, airport security rules, customs procedures, etc.)
#2 (March) Living in Britain
- Cultural expectations
- Language
- How to travel on Underground, bus system, and trains
- Phoning home
- Practicing for cultural events (afternoon tea, theatre, etc.)
#3 (March) Being a Good Traveler
- How to avoid being the “ugly American”
- What not to do (school rules and British rules)
- Planning for the departure and arrival
#4 (April) Safety and Security
- Buddy System requirement
- Wariness always
- Crossing the street
- Avoiding the most common security problems for tourists
- Check-in system to know who is where when
- Reviewing the rules one more time
Discussion Sessions
March—The Processes of Innovative Thought
Discussion of How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci and Discovering Your Genius
April—Some Significant Innovations and How They Changed the World
Discussion of selections from The Creation of the Modern World
April—How Innovation Has Changed the World
Discussion of The World is Flat
In England…
Week 1—Philanthropic/Social Innovation
9 May 2008 (Friday)—
Overnight flight; arrive London 10 May
Saturday, 10 May—
Late morning: Portobello Road Market
Afternoon: Original London Walks—“Pox and Plague” (informal discussion on Plague and how it affected politics, societal behavior, and demographics—connect to Rischard’s ideas in Part 1 of High Noon, Reader Response due in evening)
Sunday, 11 May—
Morning Roundtable: Discussion on the differences between discoveries and innovations—definitions, applications, and problems
Visit British Museum for tours and research: students will locate 5 examples of discoveries and 5 examples of innovations in the Museum and compare the effects these items have had on subsequent cultures (also included will be Parthenon Marbles—discussion of the practicality and politics of who owns world treasures and whether all cultures can flourish without infringing on other cultures and Egyptian section—the fading of dominant cultures); Reading Room for research of prominent innovators’ writings (based on innovators selected from The Creation of the Modern World)
Evening Roundtable: Discuss effects of the innovations and discoveries located in the Museum; critique the applications of those items in subsequent cultures
Evening activity
Monday, 12 May—
Breakfast at 15, Jamie Oliver’s restaurant/education project staffed by trainees from underprivileged backgrounds and lecture led by managers of 15 on the history and nature of this innovative philanthropic/educational approach; discussion on application for other under-served populations
Visit to Bunhill Fields cemetery, near John Wesley’s chapel, to see grave of Quakerism founder George Fox (informal discussion on faith’s place in changing the world); Tower of London
Afternoon: Visit to National Gallery (informal discussion on how art and the humanities record and influence society)—discussions led by students based on readings from The Creation of the Modern World
Evening Roundtable: Altruism, Humanities, and Practicality—using readings from High Noon and the day’s experiences, students will compare and critique these “humanistic” approaches to innovation on the bases of practicality and effectiveness
Tuesday, 13 May—
Morning Roundtable: The Effects of Innovations and Discoveries in Health Care—using historical context from The Creation of the Modern World, discuss how health care innovations have changed their societies
Alexander Fleming’s Laboratory—discussion about discovery of penicillin and its effects on world health, social programs, and demographics; informal discussion on National Health
Evening Roundtable: Using readings from The World is Flat and High Noon, discuss disparities in health care and whether technology is the only means of innovation for solutions
Evening activity
Wednesday, 14 May—
Morning Roundtable: Discussion on social responsibility and the role of all populations (Wollstonecraft readings in The Creation of the World with connection to The World is Flat)
Visit to London office of The Variety Club, not-for-profit organization that funds health care, education, and assistance for children with Gold Heart campaign
Afternoon: Westminster Abbey (informal discussion on lessons taught by those buried there, including Darwin)
Evening activity (early evening)
Thursday, 15 May—Environmental Innovation
Travel to Cornwall by train (St. Austell); field trip to Eden Project (lecture by onsite scientist regarding agricultural/environmental innovations)
Evening Roundtable: Based on readings from High Noon Part 2 and the scientist’s lecture, discussion on the effectiveness and practicality of current environmental innovations and requirements for new sustainability projects
Week 2
Friday, 16 May—
Return to Eden Project for service learning and student interviews with onsite scientists regarding practical innovations and anticipated effects
Saturday, 17 May—
Field trip to Looe, observational walk on Cornish Coastal Path (informal discussion on encroachment of development/tourism, appropriate use of sea’s resources, and what innovations might be used to sustain or improve the local environment
Evening Roundtable: Discussion on applying concepts in High Noon Part 3 to environmental innovations—brainstorming solutions for local problems
Evening activity
Sunday, 18 May—
Field trip to English Heritage sites (Restormel and Tintagel Castles) to see “innovations” of tourism
Evening Roundtable: Debate on commerce and use of the environment—Innovation, Preservation, or Destruction?
Monday, 19 May—
Depart for Harlaxton College, near Grantham, via train; tour of facility led by docent (informal discussion on innovative use of old buildings)
Tuesday, 20 May—Technological Innovation
Morning Roundtable: Discussion of how technological innovations of the Enlightenment resonate today (based on readings from The Creation of the Modern World and The World is Flat)
Wednesday, 21 May—
Morning Roundtable: Discussion of how technological innovations of each era have affected changes in societal class (based on The Creation of the Modern World and The World is Flat)
Field trip to Woolsthorpe Manor, birthplace of Isaac Newton (informal discussion on how scientific advancements can be nurtured by need rather than by profit)
Research time
Thursday, 22 May—
Travel to Ford Motor Company Design Studio: Innovations in Automotive Manufacturing Technologies and Their Effects on the Marketplace, the Environment, and the Working Class
Evening Roundtable: Discussion of lecturer’s perspectives in comparison to The World is Flat
Week 3
Friday, 23 May—
Field trip to Oxford and Bodleian Library for tours; visit The Eagle and Child—
Evening Roundtable: Discussion on C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and writers/educators’ roles in innovation (connected to High Noon Part 3)
Saturday, 24 May—
Morning group activity: Grantham Market
Project development day, Harlaxton
Sunday, 25 May—
Field trip to Lincoln Cathedral (return to discussion of the church’s role in innovation for social change, based on readings in The Creation of the World)
Research time
Evening Roundtable: Debate on the “best” approach to innovative social change: through interpersonal altruism or long-distance technology?
Monday, 26 May (Bank Holiday)—
Project development day, Harlaxton
Tuesday, 27 May—
Field trip to London Science Museum: Students will locate three innovative new technologies and collect information for alternative uses of each
Visit Shakespeare’s Globe and The Rose Theatres; visit to St. Paul’s (informal discussion on innovative ways of preserving culture and history)
Wednesday, 28 May—
Morning Roundtable: Discussion on best alternative use of technology located in the museum (students will make presentations and arguments)
Project development day, Harlaxton
Evening Roundtable: Discussion on what the ethical code for technological innovations should be, based on reading from The World is Flat
Special evening activity
Thursday, 29 May—
Depart Harlaxton for London
Afternoon group activity: Karla’s World Famous London Scavenger Hunt
Evening Roundtable: Discussion on criteria to determine an innovation’s worth, how an innovation should be analyzed, and which innovation students have seen that qualifies as “the best”
Special evening activity
30 May—
Depart for USA
Back in America…
Weeks 4 and 5
Students will meet for class discussions and progress reports once each week, two hours each session (days and times to be determined). Students will analyze each proposal and assess feasibility. Students will meet individually with instructor as needed.
Group Critique of proposals will occur during Week 4.
FINAL PROJECT PAPER and MULTIMEDIA DUE Wednesday, 11 June.
Week 6
Student Presentations on campus—day and time to be determined—presentations to be attended by all students and open to any others who are interested
Final Examination—Wednesday, June 18
No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking. Voltaire