From the very start of the specialization, your assignments will be geared toward tackling a complex issue of your choice that you face in your career path, industry, or field. Each phase of the course builds up to a briefing paper that analyzes, evaluates, and attempts to solve a highly complex problem. Not only does this course teach you a skill set, but it puts you further down the road in understanding the problems of your chosen field. It advances your knowledge of your own field by teaching you to look at it in new ways. This is the CAPSTONE where the scaffolding of our problem solving and innovation skills will bear fruit in a series of preparatory assignments to make your briefing paper as effective as possible.
This course is part of the Solving Complex Problems Specialization
Solving Complex Problems Capstone
Offered By
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
12 hours to complete
Revising the problem definition
Welcome to the Capstone! This module contains all sorts of information on how to finish the final assignment. At the end of the module, you will review the problem definition you wrote at the end of Course 1.
1 video (Total 3 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz
1 video
3 readings
An overview of Capstone activities10m
A Preview of the Briefing Paper Assignment10m
Writing Advice10m
1 practice exercise
Revising the problem definition1h
Week
22 hours to complete
Incorporating multi-disciplinary perspectives
Here you will review the summary of sources your produced at the end of Course 2, as well as the reflective exercise you completed at the end of Course 3.
1 quiz
1 practice exercise
Incorporating multi-disciplinary perspectives2h
Week
32 hours to complete
Projecting a status quo scenario
Here you will review the ‘status quo scenario’ from Course 3. Reflect on this prediction in light of the work you have done since you first formulated it.
1 quiz
1 practice exercise
Projecting a status quo scenario2h
Week
42 hours to complete
Developing innovative solutions
Here you will review your preferred innovation from Course 3 to address the problem you have articulated.
1 quiz
1 practice exercise
Developing innovative solutions2h
Week
52 hours to complete
Drafting a Complete Briefing Paper
Here you will now complete the final two sections of your Briefing Paper, and ensure that the paper proceeds smoothly and logically, with adequate signposts for the reader.
1 quiz
1 practice exercise
Drafting a complete Briefing Paper2h
Week
62 hours to complete
Revision, submission, and reflection
Nearly there!
3 quizzes
2 practice exercises
Final revisions5m
Reflections on your Big History Briefing Paper10m
Instructors
Shawn Ross
Associate ProfessorBig History Institute
David Baker
Associate LecturerBig History Institute
David Christian
ProfessorBig History Institute
About Macquarie University
Macquarie is ranked among the top one per cent of universities in the world, and with a 5-star QS rating, we are recognised for producing graduates who are among the most sought-after professionals in the world. Since our foundation 54 years ago, we have aspired to be a different type of university: one focused on fostering collaboration between students, academics, industry and society.
About the Solving Complex Problems Specialization
SOLVING COMPLEX PROBLEMS will teach you revolutionary new problem-solving skills. Involving lectures from over 50 experts from all faculties at Macquarie University, we look at solving complex problems in a way that has never been done before.
This specialization uses the framework of Big History which synthesizes knowledge across the sciences and the humanities, and provides a powerful foundation to think and research in new ways. Big History has been embraced as an important global framework by the World Economic Forum (WEF). Presentations at WEF by Professor David Christian, one of the creators of this specialization, have included ‘Interdisciplinary Approaches to Solving 21st Century Challenges’ (Davos 2012), ‘Big History for Big Picture Thinking’ (Davos 2014), and ‘Big History, Big Decisions’ (Tianjin 2014). In 2015, the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos had four sessions devoted to Big History including three interdisciplinary ‘Big History, Big Future’ panels on cooperation, innovation, and global growth and stability. These interdisciplinary discussion panels were the inspiration for this Solving Complex Problems Specialization.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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