College of Business & Economics 200
COBE 200: Engaging Innovation
Prerequisites: None
Credit Hours: (1)
Through a variety of non-typical classroom activities, this course will expose students to the role and value of creativity and innovation as they are experienced in all business disciplines and at all stages of the innovation process. The goals are to provide students with a contemporary and holistic view of what business looks like today, with a focus on value creation not just getting rich.
Detailed Description of Course
Innovation Evenings will consist of once weekly evening meetings approximately 2 hours length. A typical semester might include two sessions of each of the following activities:
1) Innovation skill development seminars (e.g. 3D printers, Illustrator, Coding)
2) Presentations of scholarly research on creativity and innovation from college-wide faculty
3) Presentations from industry guest speakers in the area of creativity and innovation
4) Innovation related move screenings (e.g. Objectified, The Pixar Story, Most Likely to Succeed)
5) Hands on innovation challenges that apply the four primary steps of design thinking
6) Participation in games and "low ropes" activities that require team-based divergent thinking
7) Visits to local innovation related venues (e.g. The Co-Lab in Roanoke, Virginia Tech ICAT)
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Students will be exposed to a side of innovation and creativity that is not typically seen in the classroom. Each weekly session will be hosted by a different office (e.g. the Center for Innovation and Analytics), an external guest speaker or a Radford University faculty member, together with the organizing instructor(s). Conduct will vary depending on the activity. For example, a film viewing will be followed by group discussion to debrief and reinforce learning.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1) Identify processes that enhance innovation competencies
a. Recognize and explain the role and value of innovation in the local and global economy;
b. Recognize the skills and mindsets shared by successful innovators;
2) Apply innovation process tools to actual innovation challenges
a. Find novel innovation opportunities that present themselves in everyday life;
b. Identify and administer appropriate processes and tools to help solve innovation problems;
3) Derive recommended courses of action based on innovative solutions
a. Identify and design appropriate processes to test, evaluate, and refine innovation solutions;
b. Identify how to move from an idea to a business model.
Assessment Measures
Assessment will be based upon the extent to which the student attends and participates in the activities and achieves the stated goals and objectives. Students will be required to keep a reflection journal of the course of the semester. Preparation before each evening event will depend on the event but may include watching a TED talk by the speaker or reading a scholarly article beforehand and reflecting on their experience in the journal.
Other Course Information
We believe this hands-on approach to teaching innovation will help to bring business to life in ways that are fresh, exciting and relevant and will challenge any business stereotypes they might harbor.
Review and Approval
March 1, 2018