Course syllabus for Prototyping with a frugal approach

The course syllabus contains changes
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Course syllabus adopted 2024-03-02 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameAtt prototypa med begränsade medel
  • CodeTRA240
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerTRACKS
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • ThemeMTS 7.5 c
  • DepartmentTRACKS
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 97151
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0123 Project 7.5 c
Grading: TH		 7.5 c

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

In addition to the general requirements to study at advanced level at Chalmers, necessary subject or project specific prerequisite competences (if any) must be fulfilled. Alternatively, the student must obtain the necessary competences during the course. The examiner will formulate and check these prerequisite competences.

The student will only be admitted in agreement with the examiner.

Aim

The aim of the course is to provide a platform to work and solve challenging cross-disciplinary authentic problems from different stakeholders in society such as the academy, industry or public institutions. Additionally, the aim is that students from different educational programs practice working efficiently in global multidisciplinary development teams.

Frugal Innovation or Engineering refers to the process of reducing the complexity and cost of a good and the production of it but can also include such things as increase in product durability and the use of unconventional ways of distribution. This field of product development has to a large extent emerged to fill a market gap in developing countries but has also developed within, for example, the field of health care and the need of increased access to it.
Participating in this course will serve as a source for inspiration, as well as an opportunity to learn and experience an alternative way to design and develop robust, low cost, qualitative and
The aim of the course is, thus, to create awareness and usefulness of the Frugal concept in a cross disciplinary environment.


Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Valid for all tracks-courses
  • lead and participate in the development of new products, processes and systems using a holistic approach by following a design process and/or a systematic development process.
  • work in multidisciplinary teams and collaborate in teams with different compositions
  • show insights about and deal with the impact of architecture and/or engineering solutions in a global, economic, environment and societal context.
  • identify ethical aspects and discuss and judge their consequences in relation to the specific problem
  • orally and in writing explain and discuss information, problems, methods, design/development processes and solutions
Course specific:
  • explain the concept of frugal design/engineering and how it can be understood and used in an ideation- and prototyping process,
  • with a pre-defined task, manage an ideation- and prototyping process,
  • evaluate the process as well as the outcomes of the process throughout the prototyping, and
  • in different ways throughout the prototyping, communicate the process as well as the outcomes.

Content

This course takes departure in the notion of frugal innovation but focuses more on the frugal thinking through-out or within parts of the design process, with a collaborative, cross-disciplinary approach. SDGs 9, 12 and 17 form the basis for all teaching and learning activities.

Organisation

The course is run by a teaching team.
The main part of the course is a challenge driven project. The challenge may range from being broad societal to profound research driven. The project task is solved in a group. The course is supplemented by on-demand teaching and learning of the skills necessary for the project. The project team will have one university examiner, one or a pole of university supervisors and one or a pole of external co-supervisors if applicable.

Tracks-theme: Sustainable Production

The course starts with a lecture and text-based introduction of the concept and underlying principles of Frugal design, followed up by more design-oriented, practical assignments and a team project.
The course is structured in three modules, each one around 3-4 weeks and with a specific theme: 1) Orientation, 2) Ideas and Development, 3) Compilation and Thoughts. Each module is examined through several assignments (see Examination).
The course is campus-based but digital meetings will occur.

Literature

Relevant literature is retrieved and acquired by the students as a part of the project.

Examination including compulsory elements

The examination will be a number of assignments in the form of writings, seminars, discussions and project work.
If a student can’t participate in a moment of examination, a completion assignment or plan must be discussed with the examiner.


The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.

The course syllabus contains changes

  • Changes to course:
    • 2024-03-01: Name Name changed from Frugal design to Prototyping with a frugal approach by UOL
    • 2023-11-16: Learning outcomes Learning outcomes changed by UOL
      Updated learning outcome