ISKB36 Creative Laboratory

Faculty of Arts
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Petr Škyřík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Škyřík, Ph.D.
Department of Information and Library Studies – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Alice Lukavská
Supplier department: Department of Information and Library Studies – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 12:00–13:40 C.128, except Mon 17. 11. to Sun 23. 11.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 15 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 15/15, only registered: 4/15, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/15
Course objectives
The aim of this course is to collectively go through the practical process of creative problem-solving and the creation of innovative projects, this time specifically within the context of GEOCACHING and its connection to information science and librarianship. (This year, geocaching "celebrates" 25 years, making it a suitable time to reflect on its past and present impact.) Through discussion, exploration, and hands-on experience, students will acquire methods and tools for developing creativity and critical thinking.
Learning outcomes
- the ability to engage creativity in creating new products and services - process and tools reflection
Syllabus
The semester will be structured around a complex creative challenge: to design, implement, and present a geocaching project that meaningfully utilizes information science principles and enriches the field's domains. Students will focus on, for example: Creating Playful and Educational Caches: How can you design a cache that not only entertains but also conveys information, teaches new skills, or highlights interesting places or concepts from the field of information science? Utilizing Information Resources and Technologies: How can databases, digital collections, open data, QR codes, NFC, or AR be integrated into geocaching tasks? How does geocaching help develop digital literacy? Mapping and Navigation: Working with geographic information systems (GIS), digital maps, coordinates, and route planning tools. How can geolocational data be used for information gathering and analysis? Developing Reading and Information Literacy: How can geocaching motivate reading, information retrieval, critical thinking, and working with text? Can "library caches" be created? Organizing Community Events: How can a thematic geocaching event be organized for the public or for a specific target group (e.g., families, schools, seniors) and promoted through libraries? Presentation and Popularization: How can geocaching projects and their benefits for the information society be effectively communicated and promoted? Seminars will alternate between theoretical introductions to relevant topics (e.g., gamification, user experience, data visualization) and practical workshops focused on specific aspects of creating a geocaching project (e.g., route planning, ciphers and puzzles, content creation). Also included will be discussion seminars, case studies of successful geocaching projects, and visits to inspiring places or individuals, if the topic allows and students show interest. Based on the topics and challenges addressed, students will, by the end of the semester, develop and present a functional prototype of a geocaching project, or its detailed specification and a demonstration of key elements. The aim of this course is to provide students with practical experience in the entire creative project cycle, from brainstorming and planning, through implementation, to testing and presentation. Students will gain the ability to apply creative methods to specific problems, connect theoretical knowledge with practical application in geocaching and information science, and strengthen their skills in teamwork, communication, and solving unexpected challenges. They will gain an overview of how libraries and information science can be popularized through unconventional methods, while simultaneously developing digital and information literacy among the public.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • Kreativita : souhra biologických, psyhologických a sociálních faktorů (Variant.) : Kreativita. info
  • FRANKOVÁ, Emilie. Kreativita a inovace v organizaci : povaha kreativity a její význam v současné ekonomice : kreativita jedince a možnosti jejího rozvíjení : výběr členů, rozvoj a vedení kreativních týmů : organizační kreativita a inovace jako strategie. 1. vyd. Praha: Grada, 2011, 254 s. ISBN 9788024733173. URL info
Teaching methods
Design explorations
Assessment methods
project defense
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Spring 2020, Autumn 2020, Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Autumn 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025, Spring 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/autumn2025/ISKB36