The importance of graphicacy in developing well-balanced citizens stimulates significant debate and discussion within education. Exploring and learning through the medium of graphics begins in early childhood and continues throughout adult life. The role of the education system in developing and nurturing graphical skills is sometimes understated. This module will broaden and develop students' capacity to critically think about their discipline while bringing their knowledge and understanding of graphics to bear on real-world problems and challenges. Invited speakers from a range of disciplines (including medicine, humanities, sciences, engineering, etc.) will present their real-world graphical experiences and observations through a series of short presentations. In addressing the issues raised in these presentations, students will be expected to be proactive and creative in identifying and driving improvement and positive change to enhance the competencies of these professions through graphicacy. Through a needs analysis, students will autonomously develop, create and innovate towards realising new possibilities and opportunities that enhance graphical capability and professional performance. On completion of this module, students will be expected to professionally and effectively convey ideas relating to the development of graphical capability. As future educators and agents for change, students will also be expected to debate and support the role of graphical education in making substantial and positive contributions to society and active citizenship.

Design and Communication Graphics: Graphicacy, creative problem solving, spatial abilities/visualization, design capabilities, decision-making capabilities, graphical encoding and decoding, cognitive modelling skills, Research methods in Technology Education: classroom case studies, repertory grid technique, expertise development, observational techniques, visual and verbal protocol analysis, capturing knowledge and heuristics, examining graphical thinking

On successful completion of this module, students will... Interpret and appraise a real world presentation of professional application of graphical practices and experiences Establish the benefits/concerns/ problems/practices relating to graphical capability in specific professional scenarios Formulate an overview strategy for the development of a suitable intervention to enhance graphical capability and professional performance Synthesise appropriate research literature to inform the development and creation of an intervention Utilise appropriate research methods to analyse, evaluate and validate findings

On successful completion of this module, students will... Defend the role of graphical education and its contributions to society Appreciate the potential and role of graphical education in developing future innovators and active citizens

On successful completion of this module, students will... Design, document and present an appropriate intervention and assessment strategy that develops and enhances graphical capability responding to a defined specific needs analysis

The module leader will identify and invite speakers from a range of professional disciplines to present issues relating to graphical capability in various real world contexts. Lectures and tutorials will provide students with a platform to discuss, debate, and learn about a broad range of matters stemming from the initial presentations. The deliverables of the module will include an analysis of the needs of the specific discipline/profession in the potential development of specific graphicacy skill. To enhance professional practice an intervention will be proposed and developed based on the synthesis of students' graphical education and experience to date. In addition the proposed intervention will be self/peer/and professionally reviewed within a defined reflective framework.