Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

This unit offers an overview of the main urban studies theories and illustrates techniques and tools to investigate an urban environment. Understanding the structure of a city as well as the relationship between urban form and architecture is necessary to function as a reflective practitioner in the real world. Emphasis will be placed on the development of critical thinking and analytical approach to problems associated with the city and its design.

Aims

In this unit you will learn how to investigate an urban environment to inform and support your design activity; you will develop your problem solving skills experimenting theoretical principles in different scenarios.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. describe your understanding of an urban environment through the use of appropriate visual and narrative methods.
2. demonstrate your understanding of theories of urban studies, history and practice of urban design as well as issues of city planning
3. illustrate the structure and dynamics of an urban environment, through creative as well as analytical ways of thinking.
4. investigate urban forms as well as relationships between architecture and context from a range of different perspectives.
5. summarise general theories and specific information about an urban environment to inform the design activity

Content

In this unit we explore urban theories, theories of townscape, urban space, and city forms. We discuss the main tools to investigate an urban environment, from perception of space to more complex descriptive and analytical techniques. We study the city, its design, its history and evolution in order to understand the elements which define the urban context and the identity of a specific place.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode:
Hours per week: 3
Lecture: 1.5
Tutorial: 1.5

Learning Approaches:
Lectures, tutorials, field trips, case studies, student seminars, and integrated project work.

Learning approaches will cover the following:
- Problem-based learning
- Individual learning
- Experiential learning
- Exposition
- Presentation

Assessment

Assessment will be based on addressing and problematising relevant aspects of the relationship between architecture and the city.

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.Formative feedback will be offered by tutors during the semester at key times to assist you in the development of your assignments.

Assessment name: Reflective Journal
Description: A critical personalised account about your own learning. In particular you are required to reflect on the theories presented during the lectures and how to apply them to the tutorial activities.
Relates to objectives: 1,2
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Assessment name: Exhibition
Description: A critical investigation of a city; presented in the form of a poster and a scale model, representing a relevant portion of the urban environment.
Relates to objectives: 1-3
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Mid-semester

Assessment name: Student negotiated assessment
Description: A learning contract developed in consultation with the unit coordinator to illustrate a chosen exemplar in urban environment.
Relates to objectives: 1,4,5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

No Set Text
Specific papers and other resources will be available from the Course Materials Database (CMD) and the DAB525 Blackboard site.

Additional Costs
Cost associated with preparing assignment for assessment

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

In this unit you will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

The unit may require you to partake in a field trip, of a supervised and self-guided nature. A risk assessment for the trip has identified only low impact risks. You will be provided with relevant safely guidelines prior to any field trip. You will be required to obey all safety guidelines and directions while attending field trips.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 05-Oct-2012