This course is worth one full-year credit and is contingent on adequate enrolment. Students are not permitted to register for more than one course.
Classes take place in Humboldt University, Monday to Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Mandatory field trips are an integral part of each course and may occur outside of class time on afternoons or Fridays.
Courses
CSC396Y0 Designing Systems for Real World Problems
CSC396Y0 Designing Systems for Real World Problems
Human-Centred Design focuses on creating solutions that address genuine human needs. The Summer Abroad version of CSC396 gives students a unique opportunity to explore new environments, draw inspiration from different cultures, and gain fresh perspectives on the world around them.
In this course, students will:
- Identify a real-world problem and collaborate in teams to design solutions.
- Explore their problem space, studying the people, context, needs, and constraints involved.
- Iterate designs through user feedback and usability testing of low-fidelity paper prototypes.
- Develop and test an interactive, high-fidelity prototype that addresses their chosen challenge.
The course culminates with final project presentations showcasing students’ innovative solutions.
Unlike most Computer Science courses, CSC396Y0 counts as a full Arts & Science credit, including half credit toward Computer Science degree requirements.
Prerequisite: Any Computer Science half course or permission of the instructor.
Breadth Requirement: The Physical and Mathematical Universes (Category 5)
Field Trips and Experiential Learning
Students will participate in several field trips that connect course concepts to real-world applications. Excursions include visits to:
- German Museum of Technology
- Musical Instruments Museum
- Futurium
- Hasso Plattner Institute’s Human-Computer Interaction Lab at Potsdam University
*A highlight of the course is an overnight trip to Wolfsburg, featuring visits to the Volkswagen Factory, Autostadt, and the world-renowned Phaeno Science Museum.
CSC396Y-26 CALENDAR Dec20.2025.pdf
Instructor: Ilona Posner
Ilona Posner is a User Experience (UX) Consultant and Educator with over 25 years of experience. She is passionate about improving how people interact with technology—balancing human needs, business goals, and technical realities.
Ilona has worked with organizations ranging from startups to global corporations across sectors such as finance, telecom, healthcare, transportation, and education. She has taught UX and design at the University of Toronto, OCAD University, and the Canadian Film Centre’s Media Lab, in both undergraduate and graduate programs. She also develops and delivers custom UX training for industry professionals.
A long-time volunteer with TorCHI (the Toronto Chapter of the ACM’s Computer-Human Interaction group), Ilona has also organized international Student Design Competitions at major conferences. She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Toronto.
Ilona enjoys combining her passions for teaching, travel, and design, and will be leading this course abroad for the 7th time in 2026.
GER354Y0 Berlin Roots: Creativity, Culture, and the Making of a Global Creative City
GER354Y0 Berlin Roots: Creativity, Culture, and the Making of a Global Creative City
Course participants will engage in an interdisciplinary study of Berlin’s vibrant creative industries, with a focus on print media and publishing, film and television, and digital gaming. We will begin by examining key theories about the relationship between creativity, cities, and economic development, alongside working definitions of culture and an introduction to Berlin’s complex historical landscape. Building on this foundation, our exploratory journey will trace the evolution of the creative industries from Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press and the emergence of mass publishing and newsrooms to the rise of cinematography and television, and finally to the modern digital era. Throughout, we will analyze how cultural, societal, and historical forces have shaped and sustained creativity as a central driver of innovation and urban identity.
Through engaging lectures, group work & discussions, various site visits and guided tours, as well as workshops and critical analysis, students will gain valuable insights into the complexities of contemporary creative enterprises while developing a deeper understanding for the cultural dynamics that shape them.
Prerequisites: None.
Recommended Preparation: 100-level HIS/POL/GER course/International or European Studies
Breadth Requirement = Creative and Cultural Representations (1)
Field Trips
The value of this course is significantly enhanced by the opportunity to merge theoretical knowledge from readings with hands-on experiences and direct interactions with key figures in Germany’s creative industries.
Visits to the Axel Springer AG, Suhrkamp and Die Zeit Online headquarters will immerse participants in the operations of some of Europe’s largest digital publishing houses, illustrating how traditional and digital media converge. Guided tours at the Deutsches Technikmuseum and Museum für Kommunikation will provide deeper insights into the evolution of communication, offering a historical perspective that complements the contemporary media landscape. A tour of ARD and Deutsche Welle-TV will offer a glimpse into the world of global broadcasting and its role in shaping cultural narratives. At the Staatsbibliothek and Literaturhaus Berlin, students can investigate the literary scene, gaining perspectives on the evolution of print media and its cultural impact. “Behind the scenes” tours at the Atelier Gardens Berlin and Studio Babelsberg will expand participants’ understanding of the creative and technical process involved in video and movie making. Finally, a visit to Stiftung Digitale Spielkultur and Computerspielmuseum followed by a meet-and-greet at Ubisoft Berlin, one of Germany’s top gaming enterprises, will immerse students in the burgeoning field of digital entertainment.
Instructor
Prof. Stefana Gargova moved from Cologne to Toronto in 2007, after graduating with a B.A. and M.A. in Nordic and German Studies from Universität zu Köln, Germany. After receiving her PhD in Germanic Languages & Literatures from the University of Toronto, she went on to obtain her Master of Teaching from OISE. Prof. Gargova’s research centers on the intersections of culture, identity, and language learning, particularly within the field of Second Language Acquisition and German as a Foreign Language. Her work explores how cultural identity shapes the learning process, with a special focus on multiculturalism, the concept of the third space, and the experiences of adult learners. She also examines the role of digital pedagogies in fostering cultural exchange in online learning environments. She further oversees and teaches the German Business Culture program.