EDUC 100/100G : The Creative Process

Education and Social Work

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Theories and practices of creativity will be examined and practically explored through a variety of disciplines, such as the arts, biology, psychology, sociology, philosophy and education. What is creativity? Can creativity be learnt? What happens in the brain when we are creative? These are some of the questions addressed in this course.

Course Overview

This course can be undertaken across a number of programmes, including, The Bachelor of Education and The Bachelor of Arts. 

This course is for anyone wanting to get a deeper understanding of the creative process across a range of disciplines and the potential of creativity in education and other social settings. 

In this course, the first set of weekly one-hour lectures will explore definitions of creativity and what makes a process a creative one. Subsequent lectures cover different perspectives on creativity and the creative process in education and society, the role of creativity in different disciplines, and how different subjects can be taught through a creative process.

Specific lecture topics vary from year to year, with a range of expert guest lecturers from across the University. In past years, topics have included:
    Māori perspectives on creativity
    creativity and ethics
    creativity in communities
    creativity and the brain
    creativity and mental well-being
    creativity and learning in science
    Do schools kill or encourage creativity?
    creativity and the role of audiences in the arts
    creativity and the economy
    creativity and artificial intelligence
    creativity and dance
    creative writing
This course was founded by Professor Peter O'Connor for the Creative Thinking Project. www.creativethinkingproject.org  

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of theories and practices of creativity from a variety of academic disciplines (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
  2. Identify, explain and critically evaluate beliefs about creativity and the role of creativity in education and society (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)
  3. Develop, apply and deconstruct a creative process (Capability 5.1 and 7.1)
  4. Develop an understanding of how a creative process can be used to teach a topic or issue (Capability 3.2, 6.1 and 7.2)
  5. Critically analyse the applications and ethical implications of creativity in educational contexts and settings (Capability 4.2 and 8.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Creative Project 35% Individual Coursework
Reading Responses 35% Individual Coursework
Collaborative Teaching Plan and Presentation 30% Group Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Creative Project
Reading Responses
Collaborative Teaching Plan and Presentation

Students need to hand in every assignment and get at least 50% overall to pass

Teaching & Learning Methods

This course uses relational and creative pedagogies. This means that the weekly lecture and reading are explored and extended during the two-hour tutorials, which involve participatory, creative and collaborative activities both in and outside the classroom. 
Tutorials also include time to prepare for coursework assignments. 
Attending and actively participating in tutorials is essential to your successful completion of this course.

Exam Mode

  • There is no final exam for this course

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect to commit 36 hours of direct contact via lectures and tutorials. You can also reasonably expect to commit approximately 100-120 hours to independent learning. This may include reading (and more reading), note-taking, face-to-face and/or online discussion, writing, engaging in collaborative group work, problem solving, undertaking practical creative tasks, reflecting on learning, accessing learning and study resources, and assignment, test and exam preparation and completion.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required on campus to participate in the tutorials and complete the reading response and the presentation assignments. Detailed information will be available on Canvas.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.

The course will not include live online events.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

We highly value student feedback and regularly make improvements to this course based on course evaluations.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.