COAS I450 Summer I 2011—The Innovation Symposium
Indiana University Kokomo
Instructor Karla Farmer Stouse (765) 455-9423 kfstouse@iuk.edu
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
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:
Readings to be done prior to departure, with discussion meetings held during Spring 2011 semester
by J. F. Rischard
Assignments and Evaluation
Reader Responses—5 @ 15 points each, 75 points possible
Critical Question Writings—10 @ 10 points each, 100 points possible
Group Debate Papers—2 @ 15 points
Discussion Leading—10 points
Personal Philosophy for Innovation Development—10 points
Preliminary Project Proposal—25 points
Feasibility Study—15 points
Group Critique of Proposal—10 points
Final Project Paper—100 points
Multimedia Supplement to Final Paper—25 points
Reflective Writing—15 points
Final Examination—50 points
(See Assignments sheet for details about and requirements for each assignment.)
Grading Scale:
100-90% = A range
89-80% = B range
79-70% = C range
69-60% = D range
(Top two percent of each range will receive a + grade; bottom two percent of each range will receive a - grade
Late Work Policy
ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE AS INDICATED in What Happens When. DEPENDING ON THE NATURE OF THE ASSIGNMENT, LATE WORK MAY NOT BE ACCEPTED (verify with me). IF LATE WORK IS ACCEPTED FOR A PARTICULAR ASSIGNMENT, A POINT DEDUCTION OF 10% WILL BE GIVEN FOR ASSIGNMENTS TURNED IN WITHIN A WEEK AFTER THE DUE DATE. AFTER ONE WEEK, THE LATE ASSIGNMENT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. (In the event of extreme extenuating circumstances, please discuss the situation with me.)
Plagiarism
It is my expectation and my requirement that all work you turn in to me will be your own original material. If you do borrow material as support for your views, I expect that you will cite that borrowed material properly. Plagiarism, either intentional or unintentional, is a serious offense and will be treated as such. According to the Indiana University Code of Student Ethics,
A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, words of statements of
another person without an appropriate acknowledgement. A student
must give due credit to the originality of others and acknowledge an
indebtedness whenever he or she does any of the following:
a. quotes another person’s actual words, either oral or written;
b. paraphrases another person’s words, either oral or written;
c. uses another person’s ideas, opinions, or theory; or
d. borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material unless the
information is common knowledge. (17)
According to the English Faculty Guidelines for IUK,
If the instructor has doubts about the authorship of any writing, IT IS
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO PROVE
ORIGINALITY. If originality cannot be proven to the instructor’s
satisfaction, the student may be given an opportunity to rewrite the
assignment. A student who is guilty of plagiarism due to incorrect or
incomplete documentation…will receive an F on that paper. A student
who is guilty of plagiarism due to failing to cite a source or by
submitting another’s paper as his/her own…will receive an F for the
semester.
In other words, don’t plagiarize. If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism, please ask.
Attendance
Because this course requires the exchange of ideas and information, you are expected to attend all orientations, classes, and class activities. We need your input! If you must miss class or another class-related event, please contact me in advance. We’ll miss you if you aren’t with us, and that’s the truth.
Other Policies
Cell phones generally tend to be more disruptive to the class than they are helpful to you as an individual. So, unless you have an impending emergency (being within handy reach of your significant other to determine where you will eat lunch is not an impending emergency), please turn off your phone.
PLEASE BE ON TIME. Lateness can be disruptive and disrespectful.
And though it should go without saying, I’ll say it anyway: our classroom will be a place where everyone can feel free to share views, ideas, and questions. Please listen courteously and respectfully to everyone, especially those whose views differ from yours. Listening to new perspectives can teach us all a lot about life and ourselves. It’s okay to disagree, but please do so with respect and consideration. (Please keep in mind that The Code of Student Conduct… is very clear about expected behavior.) Thanks.
What Happens When
Orientations (prior to departure):
#1 (immediately after selection process is completed)—
#2 (January) Living in Britain
#3 (February) Being a Good Traveler
#4 (March) Safety and Security
Discussion Sessions
January—The Processes of Innovative Thought: Accident or Design?
Discussion of Where Good Ideas Come From and Discovering Your Genius
(Reader Responses due on each book)
February—Some Significant Innovations and How They Changed the World
Discussion of selections from The Creation of the Modern World
(Reader Response due)
March—How Innovation Has Changed the World
Discussion of The World is Flat
(Reader Response due)
April—Issues That Require Our Attention
Discussion of High Noon
(Reader Response due)
In England…
Week 1—Philanthropic/Social Innovation
12 May 2011 (Thursday)—
Early flight; arrive London 13 May @ 10:45 PM London time
Travel to hotel near airport (TBA)
A real-world look at innovation: What innovation would you create to make travel easier, safer, or better?
Friday, 13 May—
Depart hotel 8:30 AM (new hotel TBA)
10:30 AM: Alexander Fleming’s laboratory with Curator Kevin Brown
2:00 PM: Westminster Abbey (student-guided tour of innovators’ memorials)
Informal walking tour of London
Evening Roundtable: Discussion on continuing influence of Fleming’s work and the innovators we “met” at the Abbey; differences between discoveries and innovations—
definitions, applications, and problems (Critical Question Writing #1 assigned, due 16 May)
Saturday, 14 May—
Paris—EARLY morning departure, late return (a first-hand look at the Chunnel)
Rodin Museum
Your answer to the travel innovation question….
Sunday, 15 May—
Greenwich tour? (10:30)
Afternoon:
Visit British Museum for tours and research: you will work in teams to 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)
Evening Roundtable: Discuss effects of the innovations and discoveries located in the Museum; critique the applications of those items in subsequent cultures (Critical Question Writing #2 due on 17 May)
Monday, 16 May—
Morning: Breakfast and tour at Jamie Oliver’s 15 Restaurant (9:30 AM)
Discussion on the concept of social entrepreneurism and potential uses
Visit to Bunhill Fields cemetery, near John Wesley’s chapel, to see graves of William Blake, Daniel Defoe, John Bunyan, and Quakerism founder George Fox (informal discussion on faith’s place in changing the world); St. Dunstan’s in the East
Afternoon: TBA
Tuesday, 17 May— Environmental Innovation
Travel to Cornwall via train
Accommodation in Looe, Cornwall (The Gulls Hotel bed and breakfast)
Afternoon: “Trash Walk”—observation of beach trash (and some clean-up) and discussion of how such prevalent problems can be remedied
Evening Roundtable (what to think about during the train ride): Altruism, Humanities, and Practicality—using readings from High Noon and the previous days’ experiences, you will compare and critique these “humanistic” approaches to innovation on the bases of practicality and effectiveness (Critical Question Writing #3 due 18 May)
Wednesday, 18 May—
Field trip to English Heritage sites (Restormel and Tintagel Castles) to see “innovations” of tourism and effects on environment
Evening Roundtable: Debate on commerce and use of the environment—Innovation, Preservation, or Destruction? Should everyone be entitled to have access to such sites, no matter what? (students will work in teams to write two-page argument with evidence from texts and observations)
Thursday, 19 May—
Morning travel to Eden Project (9:30 departure)
Lecture by Mark Paterson, head of education, regarding agricultural/environmental innovations at Eden
Dinner with Mark Paterson (and perhaps John Ellison) at the Pier House, Charlestown
Evening Roundtable: Based on readings from High Noon Part 2 and Mark’s lecture, discussion on the effectiveness and practicality of current environmental innovations and requirements for new sustainability projects—be prepared to ask Mark questions at dinner (Critical Question Writing #4 due 20 May after dinner at Harlaxton)
Week 2
Friday, 20 May—
Morning Roundtable: Revisiting the environment/technology debate: How much should we rely on technology to save the environment? In what new ways can technology be utilized to improve environmental conditions? (Critical Question Writing #5 due 22 May)
Research day in Looe; Cornish Coastal Path
Saturday, 21 May— Technological Innovation
Depart for Harlaxton College, near Grantham, via train; tour of facility led by docent (informal discussion on innovative use of old buildings)
Sunday, 22 May—
Morning: Field trip to Lincoln (choice of church service, castle visit, etc.)
Research time
Evening 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) (Critical Question Writing #6 due 23 May)
Monday, 23 May—(Bank Holiday)
Breakfast early
Activities TBA
Evening: Project discussion and brainstorming to develop philosophies to guide projects
Tuesday, 24 May
Morning Roundtable: What is the best way to utilize technology in your project? What effect do you expect that use will have?
Service activity?
Project development day, Harlaxton (Project Proposal due 29 May)
Evening Roundtable: Revisiting your project’s philosophy… (have a rough one-page draft of your philosophy prepared)
Wednesday, 25 May—
Morning Roundtable: How can scientific advancements be nurtured by need or altruism rather than profit?
Field trip to Woolsthorpe Manor, birthplace of Isaac Newton 2:00 PM
Evening Roundtable: Discussion of how technological innovations of the Enlightenment resonate today and how they can be adapted/shared (based on readings from The Creation of the Modern World and The World is Flat)
Week 3
Thursday, 26 May—
Field trip to London Science Museum: 8:10 AM shuttle bus departure or meet with Ratcliffs
Pairs activity: Determination of most innovative invention based on usefulness, adaptability, overall influence over time + most innovative idea for its alternative use (write out arguments to compete for fabulous prizes!)
Friday, 27 May—
Morning Roundtable: What criteria should be used to determine an innovation’s worth (how should innovation be analyzed)?
Research time
Evening Roundtable: Debate on the “best” approach to create innovative social or environmental change: through interpersonal altruism, through reliance on new applications of technology, or through ________? (students work in teams to create 2-page argument using all texts and observations as evidence)
Saturday, 28 May—
Project development day
Sunday, 29 May—
Project development day
Evening Roundtable: Discussion on what the ethical code for technological innovations should be, based on readings from The World is Flat (Critical Question Writing #8 due 1 June)
Monday, 30 May—
TBA
Tuesday, 31 May—
Morning Roundtable: Philosophies/Project proposal presentations and voting for Innovator of the Year
Project development day, Harlaxton
Evening activity
Wednesday, 1 June—
Depart Harlaxton for London (hotel TBA)
Afternoon group activity: National Gallery, boat ride to Hampton Court, Thames beachcombing, Original London Walks, other?
Evening Roundtable: Which use of technology have you seen that qualifies as the best or the most innovative? Why? (Critical Question Writing #9 due 2 June)
Thursday, 2 June
Technology activity, time TBA
Evening: Celebratory dinner at Sally Clarke’s 6:30 PM
(Critical Question #10 due 3 June before we get to Indy)
Friday, 3 June—
Depart for airport EARLY (7:00 AM)
Arrive Indy TBA
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 Friday, 17 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
Assignments
Due prior to departure (dates to be determined)
Reader Responses—15 points each, 75 points possible
For each of the following readings, please respond to the questions and defend your answer with specific examples from the reading. (I expect a minimum of two typed, double-spaced pages for each response.)
Where Good Ideas Come From—Which concept in this book intrigues you most? Why? How might you use that idea to further your own innovation?
Discovering Your Genius—What new thoughts has this reading inspired in you? How specifically will you apply that new thinking?
The World is Flat—How do you see the world changing in the next decade? What will be the most significant change? Why? How will it affect you?
The Creation of the Modern World—Which innovator’s ideas did you find most enlightening? Most surprising? Which innovations have had the most significant impact? Why?
High Noon—Which issue you do consider to be the most critical? What are some of the potential difficulties you see in creating innovations to address that issue? Why?
Due in England
Critical Question Writing—10 points each, 100 points possible
Based on the assigned readings and topic for the day, you will develop a “critical question” that could be used as the basis for group discussion. You will also answer that question using examples from the reading and from our field experiences. Each critical question/response will be due PRIOR to the day’s roundtable discussion. (I expect a minimum of one NEATLY handwritten page.)
Group Debates—2 @ 15 points each
As part of a small group, you will develop an argument paper and present it on the day’s topic. You will also provide rebuttal to the other groups’ arguments.
Discussion Leading—10 points
You will be responsible for leading one of the discussions in England.
Personal Philosophy for Innovation Development—10 points
You will develop a one-page set of principles for guiding the development of your project. These criteria should be the rules you will follow to maintain the integrity and ethics of your project and to determine how you will prioritize various aspects of your project. Each principle should also include a rationale.
Preliminary Project Proposal—25 points
Please complete this form. Be concise but specific.
Specific issue to be addressed:
Extent of the need (why this issue should be addressed):
Innovation to address this issue (including implementation):
Population(s) directly affected:
Rationale for addressing this issue in this manner:
Prospective audiences to whom you might present this and actions you want
them to take:
Timetable for implementation:
Expected outcomes:
How outcomes will be measured:
Resources required:
Potential difficulties/challenges and how they will be addressed:
Sources consulted:
Additional information required:
Feasibility Study—15 points
Please complete this form. Be concise but specific.
What aspects of your project will be most problematic?
What are potential difficulties that might arise because of
If you were part of the target organization, why would you refuse to assist in
funding or implementing this project?
Is it feasible that this project as you envision it can be implemented within two
years? Why/why not?
What about this issue and the need for this project will change within the next
decade?
Will you alter the project or continue with it as you originally intended?
Due in Kokomo
Final Project Paper—100 points
You will write a 10-15 page paper analyzing your innovation and defending it as the best approach for the issue you have chosen. It should be a formal paper, documented in an appropriate format and created with great attention to professional appearance, clarity, and detail. This project will be graded on the strength of the content (attention to detail, strength of arguments, use of specific and accurate information, organization, clarity, and overall quality of writing), thoroughness, and professional appearance.
Topics that should be included are:
Specific issue to be addressed
Extent of the need (why this issue should be addressed)
What others have done in this area (review of literature)
Innovation to address it (including implementation)
Population(s) directly affected
Rationale for addressing this issue in this manner (including how this innovation is different than similar projects)—why this is a good idea
How this innovation fits the criteria of other significant innovations
How this innovation is a new way of addressing the issue
Timetable for implementation
Who will be involved in the implementation and how
Expected outcomes
How outcomes will be measured
Resources required
How the project will be funded (complete budget)
Potential difficulties/challenges and how they will be addressed
Sources consulted
Multimedia Supplement to Final Paper—25 points
Please create a graphics presentation to supplement your final paper. You may use any combination of multimedia (PowerPoint, video, etc.). Please keep your audience in mind as you develop this part of the project: an MTV-esque video might wow an audience of your peers, but it might alienate the board of a local grants commission. Think about the response you want to achieve and what your multimedia program should include to achieve that response. This part of the project should SUPPLEMENT the proposal, not substitute for it. It should also be clear and specific enough to stand on its own .
Reflective Writing—15 points
This informal paper of 2-3 pages (typed and double-spaced) should discuss the most significant insight this course has provided. Please discuss in specific terms what led to that insight and what you plan to do with the information.
Final Examination—50 points
This examination will include essay discussion of the theories of/criteria for innovation and comparison of historical innovation with contemporary approaches based on the readings and on the observations in England.
No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking. Voltaire