Syllabus
Certificates of Advanced Graduate Study in Education
EDU 650 – Design Thinking for Organizational Innovation (Fall A 2021)
Credits - 3
Description
This course will introduce participants to the Design Thinking process as a platform for innovation. Participants will be immersed in a proven, five-step rapid iteration process that will help to quickly develop and test innovative ideas. This course will provide a comprehensive understanding of how to use the Design Thinking process to create human-centered solutions, which will foster the opportunity for more creativity and collaboration.
The Reinventing Remote Education Ventures (RREV) initiative is putting Maine educators on the forefront of cutting-edge innovation!
In 2021, the Maine Department of Education was awarded $16.9 million to support and develop projects which will strengthen a culture of innovation in PK-12 education. RREV is designed to foster innovative mindsets, creativity, and the deep empathy that is endemic to all Educators. RREV is a catalyst for educators to develop the tools to design pilots which initiate systems-level change in their districts and communities. RREV will provide statewide resources and supports through professional development, coursework, and guided engagement with effective use of design processes to empower educators and school leaders as authentic research and development professionals.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
The following EDU 650 course objectives are aligned with the InTASC Model Core Teaching Standards and Learning Progressions for Teachers as well as Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL).
Course Outcomes |
Standards |
| Demonstrate an understanding of the design thinking process | InTASC Standard: 8,9 PSEL Standard: 1, 10 |
| Apply effective empathy-building techniques through evidence-based research, observation, and interviewing | InTASC Standard: 1, 2 PSEL Standard: 3, 10 |
| Analyze and define student needs and perspectives | InTASC Standard: 1, 2 PSEL Standard: 3, 4, 10 |
| Facilitate brainstorming and ideation techniques | InTASC Standard: 3, 5, 10 PSEL Standard: 5, 6, 10 |
| Develop quick prototype iterations | InTASC Standard: 5, 6, 8, 9 PSEL Standard: 7, 8, 10 |
| Evaluate test results and analyze design thinking as a non-linear process | InTASC Standard: 6, 7 PSEL Standard 8, 10 |
| Implement the design thinking process for innovation and human-centered problem-solving in education | InTASC Standard: 3, 5, 7, 8 PSEL Standard: 1, 3, 4, 10 |
| Develop, finalize, and submit an Innovative Pilot for RREV | InTASC Standard : 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 PSEL Standard: 10 |
Assignments
Discussions Forums
The discussion topics will provide an opportunity to share content and ideas, as well as exchange feedback in this course. You will post a response to a prompt presented in the weekly whole class discussion forum. Initial posts must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on Wednesday of each week (Week 1 exception: initial post is due on Friday); second posts must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on Sunday of each week.
Assignments
There are written assignments throughout the course. Each assignment asks you to synthesize the course readings and relate the course studies to your work.
RREV Innovative Pilot
EDU 650 is one of the Innovative Mindset and Pilot Development courses being offered through several of Maine’s institutions of higher education. The RREV project uses a consistent template for the creation of all future pilots.
You will complete each section of the RREV Innovative Pilot throughout the eight-week course. The complete provided template will be revised and submitted at the end of Week 8. See the schedule below for details on the due dates for each piece of the pilot development. Throughout this course, students will apply the design thinking process to develop each of the required Innovative Pilot sections:
- Defining the Need
- Describing the Innovation
- Defining Innovation Outcomes and Measures to Assess Outcomes
- Identifying Key Expenses
| RREV Pilot Development | Deadline |
| Scheduled call with faculty | Proof of scheduled call due by end of Week 2 |
| Section 1 | Week 3 |
| Section 2 | Week 5 |
| Section 3 D | Week 6 |
| Section 4 | Week 6 |
| Section 3 A, B & C | Week 7 |
| All Sections Revised and Complete Pilot | Week 8 |
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
Assignments | Points | Percent of Final Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly Discussions (8 @ 3 points each; Week 1 introduction @ 1 point) | 25 | 25% |
| Written Assignments (5 @ 5 points each) | 25 | 25% |
| Scheduled One-on-One Call | 5 | 5% |
| Paper Tower Challenge | 5 | 5% |
| Individual RREV Sections (4 @ 5 points each) | 20 | 20% |
| Final RREV Pilot | 20 | 20% |
| Total | 100 | 100% |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Session Dates: August 28 – October 17, 2021
Week 1: 8/25 – 8/29
Week 2: 8/30 – 9/5
Week 3: 9/6 – 9/12
Week 4: 9/13 – 9/19
Week 5: 9/20 – 9/26
Week 6: 9/27 – 10/3
Week 7: 10/4 – 10/10
Week 8: 10/11 – 10/17
Course Week |
Learning Outcomes |
Activities & Assignments |
Due Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Week 1: Introduction to the Design Thinking Process
|
|
Week 1 Discussions
Week 1 Assignments
|
Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Friday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
|
Week 2: Building Empathy
|
|
Week 2 Discussion
Week 2 Assignment
|
Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
|
Week 3: Defining Needs and Ideation |
|
Week 3 Discussion
Week 3 Assignments
|
Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
|
Week 4: Brainstorming and the “How Might We?” Technique |
|
Week 4 Discussion
Week 4 Assignment
|
Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
|
Week 5: Prototype and Quick Iterations |
|
Week 5 Discussion
Week 5 Assignment
|
Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
|
Week 6: Testing, Evaluation, and Re-design |
|
Week 6 Discussion
Week 6 Assignment
|
Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
|
Week 7: Design Thinking for Educational Innovation |
|
Week 7 Discussion
Week 7 Assignment
|
Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
|
Week 8: Developing and Finalizing an Innovative Pilot |
|
Week 8 Discussion
Week 8 Assignment
|
Discussion: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET *Post your initial response by Wednesday Assignment Submissions: Sunday by 11:59 PM ET |
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Education page
UNE Libraries:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Blackboard/Brightspace.
- Education Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/education/
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
UNE Student Academic Success Center
The Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of services to support your academic achievement, including tutoring, writing support, test prep and studying strategies, learning style consultations, and many online resources. To make an appointment for tutoring, writing support, or a learning specialist consultation, go to une.tutortrac.com. To access our online resources, including links, guides, and video tutorials, please visit:
Information Technology Services (ITS)
- ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Online Peer Support
Togetherall is a 24/7 communication and emotional support platform monitored by trained clinicians. It’s a safe place online to get things off your chest, have conversations, express yourself creatively, and learn how to manage your mental health. If sharing isn’t your thing, Togetherall has other tools and courses to help you look after yourself with plenty of resources to explore. Whether you’re struggling to cope, feeling low, or just need a place to talk, Togetherall can help you explore your feelings in a safe supportive environment. You can join Togetherall using your UNE email address.
Information Technology Services (ITS)
Students should notify their Student Support Specialist and instructor in the event of a problem relating to a course. This notification should occur promptly and proactively to support timely resolution.
ITS Contact: Toll-Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673.
Career Ready Program
The College of Professional Studies supports its online students and alumni in their career journey!
The Career Ready Program provides tools and resources to help students explore and hone in on their career goals, search for jobs, create and improve professional documents, build professional network, learn interview skills, grow as a professional, and more. Come back often, at any time, as you move through your journey from career readiness as a student to career growth, satisfaction, and success as alumni.
Policies
AI Use
The Graduate Programs in Education holds the position that Grammarly and other AI writing and generative technology should not be used when completing course assignments, unless explicitly permitted by course faculty and assignment instructions. These tools do not support a student’s personal and direct capacity to develop and hone skills in creativity, logic, critical thinking, analysis, evaluation, theorization, and writing, which are central to graduate-level rigor, assessment, and research. Use of these tools when not explicitly permitted may result in an academic integrity infraction.
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the guide on how to navigate your Similarity Report.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Evaluation Policy
Course surveys are one of the most important tools the University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
Late Policy
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
8 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Sunday at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office. 16 week: Students taking online graduate courses through the College of Professional Studies will be administratively dropped for non-participation if a graded assignment/discussion post is not submitted before Friday at 11:59 pm ET of the second week of the term. Reinstatement is at the purview of the Dean's Office. The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook. Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course. The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following: Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.Attendance Policy
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
UNE Course Withdrawal
Academic Integrity