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Situated Knowledge and Community Design

Unit code: HDIK672

Credit points12.5 Credit Points
Duration
One semester
Contact hours36 hours per semester
CampusPrahran
Prerequisites
HDIK670
 
HDIK671

Related course(s)

A unit of study offered within the Masters of Design (Design Anthropology) program.
 
NOTE: This unit will be offered subject to student enrolment numbers. 

Aims and objectives

Students will complete supervised projects that enage community groups in a co design process. Students will assist in the formulation and delivery of IK principle based approaches to group inquiry and negotiated synthesis in design. Small groups will present co design projects and individual project descriptions and analyses.

On completion of this course, students will have:
* Practical introductory experience in cultural innovation principles, protocols, processes and outcomes.
* Analytical skills concerning the evaluation of design based cultural innovation.
* Relational skills for the promotion of group innovation and creativity.
* Introductory understanding of the ways in which divergent groups structure for cultural innovation.
* Gained introductory industry experience and knowledge of ethics and methods for cultural innovation practices in design.
* Developed a grounded conception of the well being basis for co design and cultural innovation.

Teaching methods

Teaching is initially conducted in a two-week block workshop oriented environment at the beginning of the unit and a two-week block workshop at the end of the unit. Then, through lectures and dialogue sessions, students engage as small supervised groups in community based co-design projects.

Assessment

Design Diary 30%
Individual Project Brief. 30%
Small Group Project Design 40%

Generic skills outcomes

Given the importance of group negotiations across social and cultural movements, HDIK672 Situated Knowledge and Community Design emphasizes relational understandings that contribute to managing change and difference in group settings that contributes to innovation and development within the social and cultural contexts of businesses, workplaces, and communities. Thus, the unit produces students with the following Graduate Attributes:
· Adaptable and able to manage change
· Aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing (e.g. socio-cultural, economic, natural)
· Entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community.

In addition to the ability to work and negotiate well in groups, HDIK672 Situated Knowledge and Community Design provides students with the following Key Generic Skills:
· Analysis skills
· Problem solving skills
· Ability to tackle unfamiliar problems
· Ability to work independently

Content

The unit explores the following themes:
*  Indigenous Knowledge principles
*  Dialogue group innovation and negotiated knowledge
*  Co Design Meta Design and Cultural Innovation
*  Ethics and methods for sustainable social futures.

Reading materials

Bohm, D., Factor, D. & Garrett, P. (1991) Dialogue - a proposal. Available online at: http://www.muc.del~heuvel/dialogue_proposal.html
McNiff, S (1998) Art Based Research. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, New York.
Peat, F. D. (1987) Synchronicity. The Bridge Between Matter and Mind. Bantam Books, New York.
Sheehan, N.W. & Walker, P.O. (2001) The Purga Project: Indigenous Knowledge Research. The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education. Volume 29 Number 2 pp 11-18.

Text Book
Sheehan, N. W. Indigenous Knowledge, Design, Education and Research. (In Press).