Overview
This year-long course continues with Unit 3 (post CALS 502) focused on continuing the conversations on Western and Traditional Indigenous Knowledges, theories, and perspectives on leadership, climate adaptation, resilience, and design thinking through guest speakers and course activities. Building on the course work completed to date in the Learning Intensive, CALS 500, and CALS 502 Climate Communication courses, you will continue to work with your team on the MACAL 501 design challenge through the Prototype stage of the design thinking process (Steps 6 – 7).
Drawing on the Unit 3 readings, and the learning to-date from previous courses, you will continue to develop your understanding of climate action, leadership, and other relevant topics. You will also contribute to your blog as a means for analyzing and synthesizing these perspectives and deepening your transdisciplinary lens on climate action leadership and the design challenge.
Activities & Assessment Overview
Please see Schedule for important dates for this Unit.
- Unit 3 Activity 1 – Read Unit 3 readings
- Unit 3 Activity 2 – Attend Synchronous Seminar
- Unit 3 Activity 3 – Meet with your team coach, and meet to continue your work on the MACAL 501 design challenge through the Prototype stage of the design thinking process.
- Unit 3 Activity 4 – Contribute to the MACAL course community.
- Assignment 5. -Unit 3 Blog Post
Unit 3 – Activity 1 | Readings and Preparation
Please read the assigned Unit 3 readings in advance of this the Wednesday pm seminar in order to participate in deepening the dialogue and analysis of the topics discussed.
Due to the focus on the MACAL 501 design challenge, the readings for this unit will be driven by what is identified by the focus of the design challenge and the focus that you and other students in your cohort have taken. In addition, there may be a reading that is required in advance of the Unit 3 Seminar (synchronous) which will be determined by the Unit 3 speaker(s) and the Course Instructor.
Unit 3 – Activity 2 | Seminar (Synchronous)
Please attend the Unit 3 Seminar, Wednesday Dec. 1st, 16:00-18:30 PT. This seminar will be informed by the evolving MACAL 501 Design Thinking challenge, and will include discussions that support your continued integration of Indigenous world views and transdisciplinary thinking about climate action leadership.
Unit 3 – Activity 3 | Continue your teamwork continue on the MACAL 501 design challenge
Your team is now taking what you did in the Learning Intensive and in Unit 2, and moving it through the Prototype stage of the design thinking process. Following the design process template, you and your team will work through the Prototype stage (Steps 6-7). To do this you will need to review the CAL 501 Design Challenge Worksheet May 17 2021 Full you have been working with since the Learning Intensive, using this as your guide to complete these steps. As this point in the Design Thinking Challenge you will be reaching out to one or more individuals external to the team to get their input and ideas on your conceptual prototype. Consider who might offer you a fresh perspective? This could be someone who can share the perspective perhaps of a typical end user/audience for your prototype, and/or someone who can share a perspective from a different worldview, or different sectors. There is openness in this requirement – the goal is for you as a team to determine who and how your prototype might be informed/improved by through consultation.
Prior to doing that you will have: 1) completed the TCPS2 Core Training course (Unit 2) and submitted the completion certificate to the Moodle Drop Box; 2) reviewed the MACAL program informed consent, sample interview, and telephone/email recruitment documents; and 3) revised those to address your specific focus. Use these forms for your interview. You are expected to give a copy of the signed consent form to the interviewee for their records, and upload the consent form into the Moodle Drop box. (Note: These forms can be signed electronically and/or once reviewed, the interviewee can send an email acknowledging having read and reviewed the form with you, and providing their informed consent. This email should then be turned into a pdf and uploaded).
Your team will be picking up from where you left off in Unit 2 (Steps 4-5), so you will be starting at Step 6 & 7 – Prototyping.
ACTIVITY 3 – Team Coaching Session
One of the expectations of Activity 3 is for your team to participate in a Team Coaching session with the MACAL team coach, Julia Szucs. Julia will provide a sign up with lots of options so that teams can identify a time that works for all team members. This is part of the ongoing support of the Team Coaching office for ensuring effective teamwork in the program, AND providing tips and strategies that you can take into your professional lives.
Sign up wiki: https://moodle.royalroads.ca/moodle/mod/wiki/view.php?id=570467
Unit 3 – Activity 4 | Contribute to the MACAL course community
Take time to review and comment on other blogs posts from your MACAL students prior to considering how to craft your next one.
Complete Assignment 5 – blog post (individual)
Please go to the Assignment 5 description for details..
Think of your blog posts as critical academic reflection where you are analyzing and synthesizing as you make connections between theory and practice. Don’t forget to explore the resources on the RRU Writing Centre as well, specifically those focused on creating a detailed outline.
The Blog Post is due on or before February 15, 2022
As a reminder, here is an overview of critical academic writing .