Course Description

Description

Information-processingtheories of modeling and design; topics include design decision making, problem solving and learning, and knowledge-based modeling and design. But really this course is about Computational Creativity with a focus on modeling/discovery & design/invention.

Learning Goals

  1. To become familiar with the literature on computational creativity (concepts, methods, tasks, domains).
  2. To become familiar with the state of art in computational creativity (systems, techniques, tools).
  3. To learn about the processes of designing, developing and deploying interactive/autonomous creative systems from ideation to realization.
  4. To acquire experience in designing an interactive creative tool.
  5. To become an independent thinker in computational creativity.

Learning Strategies

  1. Personalized learning (reading, analyzing, critiquing papers in computational creativity).
  2. Collaborative learning (presenting, discussing, critiquing papers on computational creativity).
  3. Learning by example (case studies of computational creativity).
  4. Learning by doing (small group exercises).
  5. Project-based learning (collaborative project).
  6. Peer-to-peer Learning (sharing and critiquing one another’s work.
  7. Learning by reflection (documenting and critiquing own work).

Learning Outcomes

  1. To be able to analyze/critique developments in computational creativity like an expert.
  2. To be able to identify problems in addressing creative tasks.
  3. To be able to design, develop, and document creativity tools from ideation to realization for addressing creative tasks.

Learning Assessment

  1. (Almost) daily quizzes on readings.
  2. Two presentations (one individual, one team).
  3. Project deliverables (five project deliverables, about 3 weeks apart).

Class Format

We will use “flip teaching” in our class (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flip_teaching). In a typical class, the course instructor lectures in the classroom, while students do homework, exercises, and projects outside the classroom. In our class, the instructor will assign papers for readings outside the classroom, while class time will be used for quizzes, videos, presentations, discussions, exercises.

Most classes will start with a short video, then a short quiz on the readings of the day, followed by a brief presentation by a student, followed by discussions and exercises. Please note again: most classes will have an early quiz on the readings of the day. So please come prepared and please come on time.