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Becoming a changemaker: Introduction to Social Innovation
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 20 hours
  • Course by University of Cape Town
  • Offered by

About

This course is for anyone who wants to make a difference. Whether you are already familiar with the field of social innovation or social entrepreneurship, working for an organization that wants to increase its social impact, or just starting out, this course will take you on a journey of exploring the complex problems that surround us and how to start thinking about solutions. We will debunk common assumptions around what resources are needed to begin acting as a social innovator. We will learn from the numerous examples of social innovations happening all over the world. You will be challenged to get out of your comfort zone and start engaging with the diverse spaces around you. By the end of the course, you will have formed your own approach to social innovation, and you will have begun to develop the concepts, mindset, skills, and relationships that will enable you to start and evolve as a changemaker. The Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship co-created this course with RLabs, a social movement ‘born-and-bred’ in Bridgetown, Cape Town that is now active in 22 countries. The movement empowers youth through innovative and disruptive technology by teaching them vital skills and providing much needed support and a sense of community. Advocating and supporting initiatives such as RLabs forms part of the Bertha Centre’s mandate. The Centre is a specialised unit at University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, and is the first academic centre in Africa dedicated to advancing social innovation and entrepreneurship.

Modules

Welcome to the course

    • 2 Videos
    • 2 Readings
Show info about module content

2 Videos

  • Becoming a changemaker: Introduction to Social Innovation
  • About this course

2 Readings

  • Meet your instructors
  • How this course works

What's our problem?

    • 7 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • What does Social Innovation mean to you?

7 Videos

  • RLabs: Journey of Hope Part 1
  • What is Social Innovation?
  • Simple, complicated and complex
  • Wicked problems
  • The 5 Whys
  • Case study: Mothers2mothers
  • Reflecting with RLabs: problems

2 Readings

  • What to expect in week 1
  • RLabs: Empowering Unlikely Innovators

Week 1 Activity

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 1: Test your knowledge

1 Peer Review

  • What's your problem?

1 Discussions

  • Your questions on complexity

1 Videos

  • Week 1 Peer Assignment guidance

1 Readings

  • Week 1 recommended readings

Looking at resources

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

6 Videos

  • RLabs: Journey of Hope Part 2
  • Discovering resources
  • Appreciative inquiry
  • Case study: The Street Store
  • Finding hidden resources
  • Reflecting with RLabs: resources

1 Readings

  • What to expect in week 2

Week 2 activity

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 2: Graded quiz

1 Discussions

  • Look around you, what do you see?

1 Readings

  • Week 2 recommended readings

Honors assignment: Resource audit

    • 1 PeerReview
Show info about module content

1 Peer Review

  • Optional honors assignment: Complete a resource audit

Getting uncomfortable

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Thinking about difference and diversity

6 Videos

  • RLabs: Journey of Hope Part 3
  • Bricolage: recombining ideas and people
  • Thinking about difference
  • Engaging difference
  • Negotiating difference
  • Reflecting with RLabs: comfort zones

1 Readings

  • What to expect in week 3

Week 3 activity

    • 1 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 3 practice quiz

1 Peer Review

  • Let's get uncomfortable

1 Discussions

  • Reflecting on stepping out of your comfort zone

1 Videos

  • Week 3 peer assessment

1 Readings

  • Week 3 recommended readings

Design thinking

    • 7 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Share your favourite social innovation

7 Videos

  • Rlabs: Journey of Hope Part 4
  • Generating ideas
  • Design thinking principles
  • Design thinking steps
  • Design thinking case studies
  • Discussing design thinking
  • Reflecting with RLabs: design in social innovation

1 Readings

  • What to expect in week 4

Week 4 activity

    • 2 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 4 practice quiz

1 Peer Review

  • Start before you're ready

1 Discussions

  • Reflecting on your prototype

2 Videos

  • Week 4 Peer Assignment guidance
  • Week 4 peer assessment artefact feedback

1 Readings

  • Week 4 recommended readings

Changing the system

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
Show info about module content

1 Discussions

  • Changing the system

6 Videos

  • RLabs: Journey of Hope Part 5
  • What's innovative about your ideas?
  • Social innovation as system innovation
  • Seeing system impact
  • Deepening system impact
  • Reflecting with RLabs: changing the system

1 Readings

  • What to expect in week 5

Week 5 activity

    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 5 Graded quiz

1 Readings

  • Recommended readings week 5

Honours assignment

    • 1 PeerReview
Show info about module content

1 Peer Review

  • Optional honors assignment: Exploring your idea with the 5 system questions

Growing your social innovation

    • 6 Videos
    • 1 Readings
Show info about module content

6 Videos

  • Rlabs: Journey of Hope Part 6
  • The evolving world of social innovation
  • Organizing social innovation
  • Financing social innovation
  • Scaling social innovation
  • Reflecting with RLabs: moving forward

1 Readings

  • What to expect in week 6

Week 6 activity

    • 1 Videos
    • 2 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 PeerReview
    • 1 Assignment
Show info about module content

1 Assignment

  • Week 6 Graded quiz

1 Peer Review

  • Your journey ahead

1 Discussions

  • Where to from here?

1 Videos

  • The journey ahead

2 Readings

  • Week 6 recommended readings
  • Resources

Auto Summary

"Becoming a Changemaker: Introduction to Social Innovation" is a foundational course designed for anyone eager to make a social impact. Offered by Coursera and co-created by the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship and RLabs, this Business & Management course explores complex social problems and innovative solutions. Learners will debunk myths about resources needed for social innovation, engage with global examples, and develop essential skills, mindsets, and relationships. Ideal for beginners or those enhancing their social impact efforts, it spans 1200 minutes and is available via a Starter subscription.

François Bonnici
Instructors

François Bonnici

Warren Nilsson
Instructors

Warren Nilsson

Marlon Parker
Instructors

Marlon Parker