Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

A transdisciplinary approach to integrating and applying knowledge from both academic disciplines and non-academic fields to jointly develop innovative solutions to particular scientific and societal problems in human health. Coursework emphasizes collaboration and is based on community-embedded projects.

COURSE DETAILS:

This is an applied course that uses a human-centered design approach to develop innovative solutions to a particular health problem. The course is based on team projects and will provide students an opportunity for experiential learning and application of systems thinking to address complex health issues and challenges in a particular setting. In this course students will explore key frameworks and concepts in the emerging field of health innovation and systems thinking to better understand a complex health problem. Working in interdisciplinary project teams, students will experience the design thinking/problem solving process by undertaking a full cycle of investigating the problem, ideation, solutions (prototype) development, and testing. The final team prototype will be presented at a showcase event with community and/or faculty partners. Student project teams will be supported and coached by the course instructor and/or community partners throughout the four phases of the design process; students will receive feedback on their projects to enable iteration through the full design cycle. Students will also keep a journal of individual learning, insights and reflections.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Course Objectives:  
Upon completion of the course, students will be prepared to:

1. Apply a human-centered design approach to solve a complex health problem, including researching the problem, ideation, prototyping, testing and iterating the process to create a solution in a particular community setting.
2. Examine the role of empathy in undertaking health innovations including a range of communication skills to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement while undertaking the team applied project.
3. Critically reflect on how social innovation requires creative, adaptable and reflective processes to assist in the design of solutions that will contribute to health and well-being.

Grading

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Additional recommended readings and other materials will be available online through links provided in the course syllabus and through the Canvas course container.

REQUIRED READING: