INFC7000: Semester 2, 2021

Units INFC7000 Semester 2 2021 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

INFC7000: Inventing the Future

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

This is an interdisciplinary unit, that would be jointly run by the faculties of Science, Engineering, Business, Architecture, Design and Planning. It is aimed at high achieving post-graduate students from these faculties, to provide them with high level skills in research translation, design and innovation. Student teams are a given a real product brief, of social and economic importance, and aligned with areas of university research. They must respond to this brief, producing a working prototype product and business case.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Science Faculty
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Students are expected to be experienced in their own discipline at a postgraduate level.
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Maryanne Large, maryanne.large@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Martin Tomitsch, martin.tomitsch@sydney.edu.au
	Andrew Harris, andrew.harris@sydney.edu.au
	Maryanne Large, maryanne.large@sydney.edu.au
	Alexander Carpenter, alex.carpenter@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	Mid semester presentation Self reflective diary	15%	Multiple weeks	3 x short video
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Response to the brief report Individual response to the brief	30%	Week 03	3-5 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Team market opportunity assessment and commercialisation plan and in class presentation Market opportunity assessment, commercialisation plan and presentation	10%	Week 06	5 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Group complex systems map and strategy logic and for proposed invention Systems map of the problem	5%	Week 10	1-2 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	MVP funding pitch Presentation of all elements of the project	25%	Week 12	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Brief information memorandum including technical specification of prototype Brief information memorandum including technical specification of prototype	15%	Week 12	5-10 pages
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Unit overview and technical brief introduction	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 02	Grounding and user research	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 03	Presentations by experts in the areas of the project briefs and opportunity for students to ask questions/conduct expert interviews	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 04	Design thinking and ideation	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 05	Complex systems	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 06	Students presenting their ideas/responses to the brief	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 07	Business (part A)	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 08	Business (part B)	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 10	Engineering – standards and quality assurance	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 11	1. Presentation techniques; 2. Pitching your ideas	Lecture (3 hr)
Week 12	1. Each faculty representative to workshop with each group in a rotation; 2. Refinements of prototypes	Lecture (3 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. At the end of this unit students will understand how to work in an interdisciplinary team, and be able to project manage the work
LO2. Students will learn the techniques of ideation and be able to apply them to both identifying a problem, and developing a solution
LO3. Students will learn and be able to apply the principles of design thinking
LO4. Students will learn, and be able to apply, the basics of systems thinking, including developing a systems map for their project
LO5. Students will learn and be able to apply business principles, such as the business model canvas
LO6. Students will understand different types of intellectual property, and how they are relevant to innovation
LO7. Students will learn how to prototype and test their product or service. This could include low fidelity prototyping, or a basic working prototype. Depending on the product, this may involve different techniques, including 3D printing, virtual reality, physical computing, etc.
LO8. Students will learn presentation skills, and be able to apply them to a pitch (in person or video).

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes in response to student feedback were made.

Additional information

Science student portal

Work, health and safety

We are governed by the Work Health and Safety Act 2011, Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 and Codes of Practice. Penalties for non-compliance have increased. Everyone has a responsibility for health and safety at work. The University’s Work Health and Safety policy explains the responsibilities and expectations of workers and others, and the procedures for managing WHS risks associated with University activities.

General Laboratory Safety Rules

No eating or drinking is allowed in any laboratory under any circumstances
A laboratory coat and closed-toe shoes are mandatory
Follow safety instructions in your manual and posted in laboratories
In case of fire, follow instructions posted outside the laboratory door
First aid kits, eye wash and fire extinguishers are located in or immediately outside each laboratory
As a precautionary measure, it is recommended that you have a current tetanus immunisation. This can be obtained from University Health Service: unihealth.usyd.edu.au/

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

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