syllabus creativity
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Knight School of Communication
COMM 639: Creativity & Innovation
Summer 2011
Session II
Tuesday, Thursday 6 9 p.m.
___________________________________________________________________________
Professor Kim Weller Gregory, Ph.D.
Dana 102C
704.277.6773 (cell)
Office Hours By Appointment
Textbooks Gallo, C. (2011). The innovation secrets of Steve Jobs: Insanely different
principles for breakthrough success. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Solis, B. (2010). Engage: The complete guide for brands and businesses to
build, cultivate, and measure success in the new web. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley
& Sons.
Additional readings posted on Moodle.
Description
Global flattening, digital communication tools, and a recessed economy have dramatically shifted
todays marketplace. Competition and change are two constant challenges for organizations. As a
result, innovation is imperative.
This course explores both traditional and cutting-edge approaches to innovation. Creativity,
collaboration, and design are still essential, yet contemporary organizations are realizing the potential of
new ways of thinking, such as right-brain approaches to organizing and open innovationor the
ability to create new ideas through harnessing the distributed knowledge of many. By building an
authentic, collaborative relationship among a community (employees and consumers), organizations can
tap into the creative potential of the crowd.
In this course we will investigate how creativity and innovation can be fostered through curiosity, play,passion, revolution, connection, dialogue, design, experience, storytelling, engagement, integration, and
failure. In addition, this course will explore how shifting communication practices shape knowledge,
networks, and innovation and their surrounding ideologies.
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Specific course objectives include:
1. Understanding historical foundations of shared knowledge, networks, and innovation.2. Exploring key elements for fostering creativity and innovation in todays hyper-connected
marketplace.
3. Investigating best practice for innovation including open source innovation, connectivity throughsocial networks, and community through authentic relationships.
4. Examining ways an individual can harness his or her own creative abilities, such as play, risk taking,and centering.
5. Increasing personal knowledge and skills at using digital tools and social networks to buildconnectivity and drive innovation, as well as metrics to measure and track success.
Course Policies
y Connections:Moodle: I will post general course announcements on Moodle (http://moodle.queens.edu/). Please
check our Moodle course site regularly, or you may sign up to have postings forwarded to your
email account.
Twitter: I will also share ideas and resources as well as post some course announcements on Twitter
using hashtag #639create.
RexMail: Due to FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) regulations, I will contact you
through your Queens RexMail account rather than your personal or work email. Please check that
account regularly or forward incoming emails to a preferred account.
y Assignments: Please email me assignments electronically by 6 p.m. on the assigned day. Blog linksshould be sent to my Queens email account as well. Any assignments submitted after 6 p.m. will be
considered late. Typically, any late assignment that I choose to accept is penalized a minimum ofone letter grade for each class meeting that it is late.
y Writing: As students in a graduate program, your writing should be clear, coherent, and error free.Please make an appointment at the Center for Academic Success Writing Center for any extra
assistance (contact Jenn Goddu at [email protected] or 704.688.2765; also see
http://www.queens.edu/studentlife/resources/writing_center.asp). Written assignments should
follow APA guidelines.
y Grading: Some written assignments will receive letter grades that will be converted to a numericalscore for final grade computation. The grading scale is as follows:
A 100 90 Superior work. Creative.
B 89 80 Good work. Could improve in one of these areas: ideas,
argument, or grammar.
C 79 70 Adequate work. Could improve in two of these areas: ideas,
argument, or grammar.
F 69 & below Unacceptable work. Reflects unacceptable level of commitment
or skill.
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y Class Attendance: As a short session, we will meet twice a week for 6 weeks. Therefore, it isimportant that you not miss scheduled class meetings. For absences to be excused, you must
provide me with advance notice and compelling justification. If you must miss class, please try to
Skype in.
y Confidentiality: Confidentiality on all papers and projects will be honored. The names of people ororganizations may be changed for your coursework. Please see me if you have any questions or
concerns about your paper or project.
University Policies
y University Closings/Cancelled Classes: QAlert: Sign up to receive campus emergency notificationsvia voicemail, text and/or e-mail at www.queens.edu/alert. If classes are meeting but you feel that
you cannot find a safe way to get to class, you should notify me as soon as possible. Should I need
to cancel class, I will notify you by sending out a message on Moodle and Twitter.
y Honor Code & Plagiarism:The Honor Code, which permeates all phases of university life, is based onthree fundamental principles. It assumes that Queens students: a) are truthful at all times, b)
respect the property of others, and c) are honest in tests, examinations, term papers, and all other
academic assignments.
Plagiarism is representing anothers words or thoughts as ones own, and it is a clear violation of
Queens Honor Code. It can take many forms, including word-for-word plagiarism or paraphrasing
without providing proper citation of source. To learn more, visit the Queens Center for Academic
Success located in the basement of Dana
(http://www.queens.edu/studentlife/resources/academicresourcecenter.asp)
or the following website: http://www.plagiarism.org/. Please contact me if you have any questions
or believe a violation of the Honor Code has occurred.
y Intellectual Property Policy: Queens University of Charlotte faculty and students adhere to theQueens Intellectual Property Policy. See Faculty Handbook, http://moodle.queens.edu,
and the Queens University of Charlotte website at http://www.queens.edu.
y Disability Accommodations: If you are a student with a verified disability and you requireaccommodations, please provide me with the necessary memorandum that was given to you by
Student Disability Services. Contact: The Coordinator of Disability Services: Sandy Rogelberg, 704-
337-2508.
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Major Assignments
Connectivity Project 40%
Purpose: To build and track connectivity and idea generation surrounding a topic or project about which
you have passion. (If you dont have a pet project, you can use the topic of creativity and innovation).
Assignment:
Blog. You will create a blog curating knowledge, ideas, and resources related to your topic. You will
create two short but cohesive blog entries per week for a total of 10 entries.
Each blog should do all of the following:
1. Link to influential voices related to your topic2. Invite dialogue on your blog topicthat is, pose a question at the end.3. Feed your Twitter account into the blog (see below).4. Note: One blog per week should include some type of image (e.g., Flickr, video blog, Youtube
video)
Twitter. You will use Twitter as a tool to build connections related to your topic. Please do the
following:
1. If you dont have one already, start a Twitter account and mention your involvement in yourtopic in your Twitter profile description.
2. Start following people who are relevant to your topic (at least 5).3. Tweet or retweet material at least 5 times per week. Include links in at least 3 tweets per week.
Space the tweets evenly throughout the week.
4. Create or use an existing hashtag. Please include hashtag #639create on all your tweets relatedto the course.
Analytics: As part of the assignment, you will do some basic tracking of the connections created fromyour blog and Twitter account (more later). For instance, how many visits were there to your blog and
how many comments did you receive on your postings? For your twitter account, how much did you
increase your followers, how many people @mentioned or retweeted you, and how influential are they?
Presentation. You will present your completed blog to the class at the end of the course. You will
report on your experiences trying to build connections and describe your key learnings related to
community and innovation. What worked? What didnt work so well?
Reflection papers/blog 30%
Purpose: To reflect on your learning related to creativity and innovation as it relates to you personally.
Assignment: Once a week (for a total of 5 weeks), write no more than a one-page reflection on your
learning in the course related to creativity and innovation. This is your chance to apply the course
material to yourlife. What is this course teaching you about your own creative capabilities and how
best to tap into them? What is this course teaching you about innovation (or the ability to see and do
things in new ways), both at the individual and organizational level? How might you use the knowledge
about organizations to do things differently in your own organization(s)? Be specific. Each reflection
paper should incorporate specific course material.
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These papers can be written as traditional papers or as blog entries.
Group Ignite! Presentation 10%
Purpose: To work in a small group to report on the creativity and innovation efforts of one organization.
OR to explore and report on one type of creativity and innovation effort using several companies as
examples.
Assignment: Together with your group members, you will choose an organization that has shown
creativity and innovation in building new ideas, products, services, experiences, and/or connections. In
an Ignite talk format (5-minutes and no more than 10 slides (time to run automatically in less than 5
minutes), you will inform the class about your organizations creativity. Be creative and exude high
energy in your presentation. Ignite a passion in your audience about the topic! Start a revolution about
it!
Participation 20%
Your participation grade will be calculated with equal weight given to the following:
1. Blog comments. You will comment on each others blog once per week.2. Twitter follow and retweets. Follow at least 5 influential voices in field of connectivity and
innovation. Note: Follow #innovation and youll find a lively discussion. Retweet 5 interesting
tweets/links related to innovation per week spaced evenly throughout the week. Some
suggestions of people to follow related to innovation and social media:
@craighcollins, @briansolis, @mashable, @chrisbrogan, @zappos (social media)
@innovate (innovation)
@randfish (CEO & Founder of SEOmoz)
@SEOmoz (SEO software, analytics)
@zeldman (Jeffery Zeldman, Author, Web Designer, "Happy Cog" A List Apart Magazine,
An Event Apart www.zeldman.com )
@avinash (Avinash Kaushik, Analytics)
@copyblogger (Brian Clark, internet marketing)
3. Class attendance.
Tentative Course Schedule
Date Class Topic Assignments
T/May 17 Class meets in McEwen 206
Introduction to the Course
Creativity and Innovation in a Digital World
Historical Perspective of Knowledge, Networks
and Creativity
Have blog, twitter, & HootSuiteaccounts set up
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Date Class Topic Assignments
Th/May 19 Class meets in Dana 110
Guest Lecture: Michael Arena, Ph.D.,
McColl School of Business
Innovation: Cloud, Crowd, and Clusters
Texts:
Solis: Ch. 1-4; & Ch 20
Jarvis: pp. 1-39
Articles, Blogs & Websites:
Kamenetz: http://bit.ly/aNOsQH
Reflection Assignment: Reflect on the
difference between human and digital
connectivity. Assess your own current
level of connectivity today.
T/May 24 Class meets in McEwen 206 from 6-7 p.m.
Ignite #1 Presentation
Passion
Vaynerchuk video in class
Move to Vivace restaurant by 7:30 p.m.
Guest Speaker: Rick Mabe, Owner,Dragon Fly
Studios
Topic: Architecture & Design
Experience Design (Case blog)
Responsive Design (Marcotte)
Idea Labs
Texts:
Gallo: Chs. 1-7, 10-11
Vayernerchuk, pp. 1-14
Articles, Blogs & Websites:Salter: http://bit.ly/kPzpqd
Diefell: http://bit.ly/muZyiR and
http://www.wdydwyd.com
Case:http://bit.ly/l2Qzzt
Marcotte: http://bit.ly/D7orC (online
web-thing)
http://bit.ly/bcKwQS (responsive web
design article)
Blog #1 Assignment: Self-reflectionWhat is your passion? Where can your
creativity best be seen? What
revolution do you want to cause?
Th/May 26 Class meets in Dana 110
Open Innovation
Community & Relationships
Social network
Brogan http://www.chrisbrogan.com
Listening
Boyd blog & website
Social good, cause-marketing
McNicholas: http://onforb.es/l5A8C3
Ignite #2 & #3 Presentation
Texts:
Solis: Chs. 15-16, 18-19, 24-25
Jarvis: pp. 40-53
Gallo: Chs. 8-9
Articles, Blogs & Websites:
Boyd: http://www.apophenia.com
www.zephoria.org
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Date Class Topic Assignments
T/May 31 Class meets at Area 15 in NoDa
Curiosity
Imagination
Play
Graffiti
Guest Speaker: Patti Palmer,MA COMM 12
At 7:30 p.m. we will do a creativity exercise
Ignite #4 Presentation
Texts:
Foster (1996): Chs. 1-9
Gross & Gross (1993)
Articles, Blogs & Websites:
Wilson: http://bit.ly/jGw92t
Th/June 2 Class meets in Sykes Auditorium
OD on the Edge Meeting 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Michael Arena, McColl School of BusinessTopic: Optimizing Success in Start Ups
http://bit.ly/k0eGAq
Move to Dana 110 at 7:30 p.m.
Experience
Branding
Analytics
8-9 p.m. Guest Speakers: Reena Arora & Eric
Hill, Queens University of Charlotte,
Marketing & Community Relations
Texts:
Gallo: Chs. 12-13
Solis: Ch. 26
Articles, Blogs & Websites:
Ideo: http://www.ideo.com/about/
http://bit.ly/a250QX
Kaushik: http://bit.ly/91JLtr (see web
analytics info)
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Date Class Topic Assignments
T/June 7 Class meets at Belle Acres
Guest Speaker: Jack Dillard, Co-founder Brew
Pub Poets Society
Storytelling
Collaboration & Sharing
Visual Connectivity
Harris: http://bit.ly/2kaNPP
Texts:
Gallo: Chs. 14-15
Articles, Blogs & Websites:
Svoboda: http://bit.ly/9NYXnB
Sacks: http://bit.ly/h3yIeV
Schomer: (see Fast Talk Dare to
Share)
http://bit.ly/fbGSg8
Chaey: http://bit.ly/iPsRWe
Storytelling: Podcast
http://www.iloveagoodstory.com
Botsman: http://bit.ly/2EyATe
Pecha-Kucha:http://www.pecha-kucha.org
Th/June 9 Class meets at Laughing Buddha yoga studio
(Dress comfortably. You may participate in the
yoga session to whatever extent you feel
comfortable.)
Integration
Texts:
Hanh: pp. 5-20
T/June 14 Class meets in McEwen 206
Guest Speaker: Cathy Anderson,McColl
School of Business
Topic: The Individual Creative Process
Left vs. Right brain thinking
Ignite #5 Presentation
Texts:Pink: pp. 1-67
Th/June 16 Class meets in Dana 110
Drive
Failure
Patti Palmer re: Inventors.
Ignite #6 & #7 Presentation
Texts:
Jarvis: pp. 91-102
Gallo: One more thing epilogue
Articles, Blogs & Websites:
Tischler http://bit.ly/gUeSVq
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Date Class Topic Assignments
T/June 21 Class meets in McEwen 206
The Future of innovation
Ignite #8 Presentation
Articles, Blogs & Websites:
Watch & Drinker:
http://bit.ly/jwMNa4
Penenberg: http://bit.ly/fm0WdR
Th/June 23 Class meets in Dana 110
Project Presentations
Projects Due
Individual Projects Due
T/June 28 Class meets in McEwen 206
Project Presentations Reflection AssignmentDue
Th/June 30 Final Exam Period
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Reading List
Chaey, C. (2011, May). Brave new co-working world. Fast Company. http://bit.ly/iPsRWe
Foster, J. (1996). How to get ideas. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
Gross, D. D., & Gross, T. D. (1993). Tagging: Changing visual patterns and the rhetorical implications of
a new form of graffiti. Et cetera: A Review of General Semantics.
Hanh, T. N. (1991). Peace is every step: A path of mindfulness in everyday life. New York: Bantam.
Jarvis, J. (2009). What would Google do? New York: HarperCollins.
Kamenetz, A. (2010, September). How TED became the new Harvard only bigger. Fast Company.
http://bit.ly/aNOsQH
Penenberg, A. L. (2011, January). Everyones a player: How video games are infiltratingand
improvingevery party of our lives. Fast Company. http://bit.ly/fm0WdR
Pink, D. H. (2006). A whole new mind: Why right-brainers will rule the future. New York: Riverhead.
Saks, D. (2011, April). The sharing economy. Fast Company. http://bit.ly/h3yIeV
Salter, C. (2011, February). Syyn labss league of extraordinary nerds. Fast Company.
http://bit.ly/kPzpqd
Schomer, S. (2011, January). Fast talk: Dare to share. Fast Company. http://bit.ly/fbGSg8
Svoboda, E. (2010, November). Collaborating for a cure. Fast Company. http://bit.ly/9NYXnB
Tischler, L. (2011, April). John Maeda mulls RISDs backlash against his cyber-style leadership. Fast
Company. http://bit.ly/gUeSVq
Vaynerchuk, G. (2009). Crush it! Why now is the time to cash in on your passion. New York:
HarperCollins.
Watch, D., & Drinker, R. (2011, May). 4 things the U.S. can learn from innovative foreign companies.
Fast Company. http://bit.ly/jwMNa4