2024 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Fundamentals of Innovation Creation (Life Science and Technology)
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Takeshi Hata / Nobuhiro Nakamura / Shunichiro Ogura /
- Class Format
- Lecture/Exercise (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A270
- Number of credits
- 0.50.50
- Course offered
- 2024
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 17, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
As we enter the "VUCA era" in which the future is difficult to predict, there is a need not only in industry but also in society as a whole to develop and produce innovative human resources who can create pioneering social value from new ideas that differ from the conventional line of extension, in order to realize a happier society. The aim of this course is to learn the basics of "design thinking," which has been attracting attention as one approach to cultivate human resources who can solve problems that span multiple fields from a thorough customer/user perspective, discover new problems themselves, and create concrete solutions, and to learn how to create new value through practice. The objective of this course is to cultivate creative abilities that are indispensable for future innovators. In this lecture, students will learn the process and methods of design thinking, and in group exercises, they will experience the process of creating solutions to given problems (empathy, problem definition, idea generation, prototyping, user testing, and storytelling).
Course description and aims
・Students will be able to understand the design thinking method and can apply it for suggesting solutions to surrounding problems.
・Students can acquire facilitation skills through communication and discussion in the group.
・Students will be able to visualize ideas quickly and effectively appeal them.
・Students will be able to understand the methods and benefits of team building that can ensure the psychological safety of the group and take advantage of the diversity of its members.
Keywords
Design thinking, Project-based learning (PBL), Empathy, Problem definition, Idea generation, Prototyping, User testing, Storytelling, Innovation
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
In the first half of the lesson, we learn about the concept and method of “design thinking”. In the second half, we attempt to propose propose solutions to given tasks through group works. The students learn deeper the essence of “design thinking” by applying the learned processes and methods step by step.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Module 1: Introduction - Difference between Innovation and Operation, Overview of Design Thinking, Team Building | Each instructor indicates an assignment. |
| Class 2 | Module 2: Empathy - What is empathy? Pair interview, Creation of empathy map | Each instructor indicates an assignment. |
| Class 3 | Module 3: Problem Definition - Empathy Mapping (continued), What is Problem Definition? Creation of problem definition statement, Selection of problem definition statement for the team | Each instructor indicates an assignment. |
| Class 4 | Module 4: Idea Generation - What are Ideas? Idea brainstorming, Combination brainstorming, Idea selection | Each instructor indicates an assignment. |
| Class 5 | Module 5: Prototyping - What is Prototyping? Prototyping, User testing, Improvement of prototype | Each instructor indicates an assignment. |
| Class 6 | Module 6: Storytelling - What is Storytelling? Creating a skit, Preparing for presentation | Each instructor indicates an assignment. |
| Class 7 | Module 7: Presentation, Reflection - Idea presentation (skit & prototype), Reflection | Each instructor indicates an assignment. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Materials (textbooks) will be provided by instructors in class.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Each instructor will recommend as necessary.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Contribution to group work (40%), Final presentation (30%), Final report (30%)
Related courses
- HCB.C402 ： Fundamentals of Creative Design
- LST.A413 ： Career Development Seminars
- HCB.C403 ： Field Works for Creative Design
- ESD.H401 ： Disciplined Entrepreneurship
- ESD.D404 ： Design of Medical and Welfare Device
- UDE.E432 ： Practice of Environmental Design based on Environment-Behavior Study I
- UDE.E433 ： Practice of Environmental Design based on Environment-Behavior Study II
- HCB.C404 ： Industrial design
- HCB.C501 ： Practical Creative Design
- HCB.C502 ： Management for Business Creation
Prerequisites
Non. The number of students who can enroll is limitted.
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
Hata: thata[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, Nakamura: nnakamur[at]bio.titech.ac.jp, Ogura: ogura[at]bio.titech.ac.jp,
Office hours
Contact by e-mail in advance to schedule an appointment.