Managing Innovation and Change

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

This subject is run over an 8-week period as opposed to a standard 12 week semester subject.It is recommended that students devote 14 hours per week to this subject over 8 weeks.

Students must be able to perform word processing, use Excel spreadsheets, and have a reasonable understanding of the Internet and the University’s Learning Management System (LMS).

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students will review theories and case studies of innovation and change in land and environment in order to analyse and consider the design, delivery and evaluation of knowledge systems. The subject will provide students with an understanding of how and why people take up knowledge and information, as well as the roles of different agents in innovation systems. Students will develop the skills to enable them to generate, acquire, apply and make accessible the knowledge needed to enhance material, human, social and environmental wellbeing.

On completion of this subject students will have developed:

• An understanding of the different ways people learn and change
• An understanding of the application of systems thinking to complex problems in agri-food systems
• A working knowledge of critical elements to innovation program design, delivery and evaluation
• The ability to facilitate groups to assist in developing knowledge and skills
• Techniques in the use of case studies to facilitate learning and practice change.

Assignment 1 (Individual, 1,000 words), due week 3 - 10%, Assignment 2 (Group, 3,000 words), due week 6 - 30%, Assignment 3 (Individual, 4,000 words), due week 8 - 40%, and Online Discussion Participation, due weeks 1-8 - 20%.

Jennings, J., Packham, R. And Woodside, D. (ed.) 2011. Shaping Change: Natural Resource Management, Agriculture and the Role of Extension. Australia: Australiasia-Pacific Extension Network.

Leeuwis, C. (2004) Communication for Rural Innovation: Rethinking Agricultural Extension. Third Edition. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4051-7647-7.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

It is expected students will develop:

• Awareness of and ability to utilise appropriate communication technology and methods for the storage, management and analysis of data
• Highly developed computer-based skills to allow for effective online learning and communication
• Ability t collaborate, exchange ideas and debate across online learning platforms
• Ability to plan, use time effectively and manage small projects
• Appreciation of social and cultural diversity from a regional to a global context.