This microcourse is included in a series of nine microcourses that can be bundled together into our Microcertificate in UN SDG Impact. Click here to learn more: UN SDG Microcertificate.
Microcourse Description:
This microcourse on innovation and breakthrough thinking covers the topics you wish you formally learned but never did. Starting with self-reflection to understand our own identity and world view, we will create a baseline for how we currently think so our thinking can evolve. To be change agents in our disrupted, rapidly changing, and connected world, we have to learn new strategies to think differently, and understand how our actions impact internal and external systems. This microcourse covers foundational principles, and it is framed with simple questions that bring clarity to thinking processes, and creates a universal language to discuss global change. While our world is in desperate need of solutions to solve grand challenges, all change must first start within ourselves and our local communities. This course will challenge student’s current thinking patterns and problem solving skills to provide a foundation for deeper strategic learning, and leading as a change agent.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this microcourse you should be able to:
- identify the different types of thinking and what strategies can be used in different scenarios;
- adapt current behaviors and patterns to create new ways of thinking and solving problems;
- understand processes used to elicit creativity from themselves and their teams;
- analyze individual and organizational roadblocks to thinking differently and create management techniques to overcome them; and,
- recognize systems, identify why systems matter, and consider problems from a systems view.
Faculty:
Emily Reineke, MA, CAE is a Senior Associate at MCI USA and serves as the Managing Director for ITechLaw Association – a global association with 1,000 members that runs conferences on 3-4 continents each year. Her background is in education and she is a leader in both the non-profit and association communities. Highlights of her recent successes include being recognized as a Forty Under 40 Leader by Association Forum in 2016 and launching an international student competition, which was a 2015 recipient of a Power of A Award from the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE). She regularly speaks and writes on global affairs, education, and systems thinking. Emily holds degrees from Virginia Tech and Marywood University.
Introduction Video:
Our shopping cart is simple and easy to understand. If you do not have a user account, you will be able to create one upon purchase. Save your username and password as you will need it to login to access course materials later. For more detailed, step-by-step instructions you can review our tutorial How to Purchase a Course. Again, if you experience any issues, please email our Registrar at registrar@ubiquityuniversity.org.
Microcourse Contact Information:
Microcourses are completely on-demand for your convenience. If you have questions or require additional assistance, click the “Chat” button down on the left-hand side of the screen, and submit your question. Our help desk will respond as soon as possible. Please do not email faculty directly with any technology or registration issues.
Single microcourses do not qualify for academic credit. However, enrolled students can add three microcourses together, purchase a Microcourse Credit Conversion option, pay the difference between the cost of the microcourses and a regular trimester course at their degree level and submit your reflection journals and a Final Creative Assignment for grading. For assistance with this, please email our Registrar at registrar@ubiquityuniversity.org.
The rules guiding our assignment collection and grading process can be found here: Ubiquity University Grading Policy
