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Syllabus (as of 1/14/09)Course No: ATEC 6351.501 Special Topics in Arts and Technology
 
Course Title:
Generative Design Research
Instructor: Chip Wood, Clinical Associate ProfessorContact Options:chip.wood@utdallas.eduATEC Rm 1.708/972-883-2785chipwood.utd@gmail.com Class Day & Time: Fall Semester 2008/Wednesdays 7:00pm 9:45pmLocation: ATEC Conference Room 1.606
Course Description
This class is designed to help graduate students in the ATEC program learn how to do primarydiscovery research that uncovers significant ideas and opportunities in a dynamic and complexworld of possibilities. Students will learn how to evaluate data, select ideas that have the greatestpotential, and construct robust scenarios to describe and define a balanced value proposition.This course will help students learn how to approach research in a holistic way that yields insightsabout what is desirable on the part of users, what is possible from the standpoint of technologies,and what is valuable to the business enterprise that will ultimately invest, develop and build thenew products and services.Students will select and pursue research in an area of interest, either as teams or individually,following a scheduled outline that will include collaborative discussions and brainstormingsessions to help everyone evaluate, expand, and explore the possibilities. The course willconclude with a final report and presentation for each of the research projects.Included in the course will be:
 
A series of lectures and discussions
 
A review of new research methods and processes
 
A review and evaluation of a series of case histories
 
A schedule of assignments to practice and experience the discovery process
 
Evaluative techniques to define what’s important and valuable
 
Creative sessions to generate new constructs and concepts
 
Presentation techniques for making the case for a new proposition
Course Requirements
 
Attendance to all classes is important, especially during creative work sessions
 
All assignments need to be completed on time and in a professional manner & retained inan active personal reference file or notebook 
 
All students need to participate individually and as a contributing member of the class
 
In addition to the assignments below there will be other helpful handouts and referencesto relevant materials
Grading Procedure
Because this course’s emphasis will be on providing the student with an awareness andunderstanding of Design Research methods and practices through experience, it is very importantthat students participate individually and collectively to insure that everyone has a successfulleaning experience. Therefore, students will be evaluated on attendance, participation in class,
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assignments, and the quality and quantity of work completed from week to week. Assignmentswill be discussed throughout the course, with specific requirements spelled out. See gradingbreakdowns at the end of this document.
Classroom Conduct
 
Students are to focus their attention on the subjects at hand in the classroom, i.e., lectures,presentations, discussions, and teamwork sessions and set aside all other activities.
 
All open communication (talking) should be relevant to the subject at hand and havevalue to the class as a whole.
 
Competitiveness between students and teams will be friendly and encouraging at alltimes.
 
All other rules of behavior will be discussed and agreed to by the class on the first day.
Academic Ethics
Any form of disruptive behavior or scholastic dishonesty, such as plagiarism, cheating, orcopying other’s work will not be tolerated and may result in loss of credit.
Drop Procedures
(see http://utdallas.edu/student/registrar/calendar/) If you are unable to complete this course, you should withdraw from it. Withdrawing from acourse is a formal procedure, with a specific published deadline, which you must initiate. Theinstructor cannot do it for you. You must do this through the Registrar’s Office.
Course Schedule & Outline
1/14
Class 1
Introductions, syllabus, overview, goals, expectations, supplies, etc.Lecture/Discussion:
Overview & Choosing Arenas of Interest to Study
 Assignment #1: Choose two subject arenas of interest; one primary and onesecondary. Write short paragraph descriptions for each and email to instructor.1/21
Class 2
Lecture/Discussion:
Society/Tech/Business Trends – Secondary Research
 Assignment #2: Start gathering information in the public domain about yourprimary area of interest to file away for future bibliographic references and sendsample of the most interesting references to instructor. Secondary Researchshould continue throughout the semester.1/28
Class 3
Discussion: Brief Q&A about everyone’s subject & early understandingLecture/Discussion:
Design Custom Research Tools – Primary Research
Assignment #3: Develop research plan; email to instructor for feedback and startprimary field research. Be prepared to share early findings at next class.2/04
Class 4
Lecture/Discussion:
Heuristic Discovery – New Knowledge & Redirection
 Work-Session: Share findings so far for feedback and preliminary analysis.Assignment #4: Email status report to instructor including samples of newknowledge for feedback and continue primary field research. Be prepared toshare findings at next class.2/11
Class 5
Lecture/Discussion:
Analysis & Frameworks – Innovation Engines
 Work-Session: Share discoveries that had an impact on findings.
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Assignment #5: Develop a framework that organizes and reduces the researchdata into a graphic summary ready for group review in next class.2/18
Class 6
Lecture/Discussion:
Generative Scenarios & Divergent Thinking
 Work-Session: Group brainstorming around each student framework to flesh outideas for new scenarios and build decision matrix to rank-order the list of ideas.Assignment #6: Select best idea and draft a one page scenario description – emailto instructor for feedback 2/25
Class 7
Lecture/Discussion:
Synthesis – Developing an Evolved Point of View
 Work-Session: Reconcile all the possibilities and identify what’s important, allthings considered from the point of view of the consumer, the business, and thetechnologist, and begin to draft a strategy outline for realization.Assignment #7: Compose a one page statement of over-all (POV) Point of Viewand email to instructor for feedback.3/04
Class 8
Lecture/Discussion:
Concept Development – Convergent Thinking
 Work-Session: Group brainstorming around each student’s short list of conceptsto explore specific opportunities and detailed descriptions of benefits.Assignment #8: Clean up conclusions from the brainstorming session and emailresults to instructor for feedback.3/11
Class 9
Lecture/Discussion:
Draft Proposition – What’s Your Story?
 Assignment #9: Compose a brief narrative that summarizes your proposal insufficient specificity so that someone not familiar with your project wouldunderstand what it is, and how it would be beneficial to others, and email toinstructor for feedback.3/18
No Class
Spring Break Holiday3/25
Class 10
Lecture/Discussion:
Trial Balloons & Conversations – Outreach for Allies
 Assignment #10: Identify and build a target list of benefactors who mightbecome part of your ‘value web’, i.e., parties who can help you realize yourproposition, such as investors, technology providers, and business partners, etc.and email to instructor for feedback.4/01
Class 11
Lecture/Discussion:
Comprehensive Value Proposition – A Compelling Story
Assignment #11: Review the Value Proposition check-list (provided) and insertstatus notes for each item and email to instructor for feedback.4/08
Class 12
Lecture/Discussion:
Design ‘Proof of Concept’ Presentation (Final Exam)
 Assignment #12: Chose best way to demonstrate your proposal and design anaction plan; Email plan to instructor & get cracking—you only have 3 weeks!4/15
Class 13
Work-Session:
Prepare Presentation
 Assignment #13: Show progress & work your plan4/22
Class 14
Work-Session:
Prepare Presentation
 Assignment #14: Show progress & work your plan
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