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

Whether you are embarking on a four year course of study or minoring in Urban & Regional Planning, you've likely given some thought as to what "planning" is, but may not have yet arrived a satisfactory answer. This unit will engage you in conversations about what urban & regional planners do and the frameworks that underpin urban & regional planning and urban design practice. Further, we'll develop familiarity with elements of a common language which will allow for communication with practicing planners, designers, and other built environment professionals, along with technical skills which will allow such communication to go beyond the written or spoken word. Most of all, however, this unit will provide you with a basic knowledge to inform your thoughts on what planning could be, which will continue to evolve over your studies and hopefully beyond.

Aims

The unit will:
1. introduce you to urban & regional planning and urban design ideas and principles;
2. provide you with introductory level instruction and experience in research and data analysis techniques, as well as drafting and visual composition skills; and
3. foster growth in your communication and coordination abilities in both individual and collaborative work efforts.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you will have:

1. developed a basic understanding of what constitutes the fields of practice of both urban & regional planning and urban design, how they inter-relate, and what practitioners in each field actually do;
   
2. developed a basic understanding of theory underlying the fields of urban & regional planning and urban design and an ability to apply theoretical concepts to real places at an introductory level;
   
3. demonstrated an introductory level ability to communicate professionally in visual, verbal, and written modes, using technology where appropriate, in both individual and collaborative work environments;
   
4. demonstrated an introductory level ability to appropriately select and use a variety of research and data analysis techniques; and
   
5. demonstrated an ability to work cooperatively in a group.

Content

Major topics to be covered include the fundamentals, history and theoretical frameworks of urban & regional planning and urban design, along with explorations of basic research and data analysis techniques, drafting and visual composition skills, and communication and coordination strategies necessary for introduction into professional practice in both fields. You will have multiple opportunities to construct bridges between classroom-based learning and real-world experiences through participation in active, experiential tutorials in and around QUT's Gardens Point campus and the Brisbane CBD.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching will be structured around lectures and tutorials. The lectures will provide you with basic theory, background and material to develop a base of knowledge in the field which you can then apply in practice. The tutorials will vary each week but involve urban excursions, class discussions, problem solving exercises, computer labs, and other interactive learning. The tutorials will address content covered in the lectures, with a particular focus on current and relevant applications in the 'Real World' using a number of case studies. While the exercises undertaken during the tutorials will not be graded, your understanding of the skills developed and knowledge gained in the tutorials is essential to successful completion of the graded assessments as described below.

Successful completion of this unit requires that you undertake regular readings as specified in the syllabus. While lectures will address topics from these readings, they will not provide full transcription of the ideas each text contains. If you wish to achieve high marks, you are particularly encouraged to take notes as to reactions to readings.

Assessment

Assessments for this unit will be both formative and summative in nature, involving both independent and collaborative work efforts. While participation in lectures and tutorials is not specifically addressed by unit assessment techniques, it provides essential preparation for assessments and is therefore HIGHLY encouraged.Students will receive both formative and summative feedback on assessments. Formative feedback will occur in the form of face-to-face dialogues and electronic exchanges amongst and between students and teaching staff.

Assessment name: Poster Presentation
Description: Understanding & Communicating Perceptions & Use of Space
Drawing on experiences from the tutorial exercises, this assessment requires you to describe perceptions of and analyse use of space on QUT's Gardens Point campus, constructing a representation of campus on an A1 format poster (you must submit both an electronic copy (*.pdf format preferred) and a printed poster - colour printing is available at QUT library and at OfficeWorks for ~$20). More than just a map with photos, your poster, which should involve both visual and written elements, should help communicate your personal experience of campus to a viewer, drawing upon your growing understanding of theories and principles underlying the fields of urban & regional planning and urban design. More information on this assessment is available in the project brief and CRA, both of which can be found on the unit Blackboard site.
Relates to objectives: 1.develop a basic understanding of what constitutes the fields of practice of both urban & regional planning and urban design, how they inter-relate, and what practitioners in each field actually do;
2.develop a basic understanding of theory underlying the fields of urban & regional planning and urban design and an ability to apply theoretical concepts to real places at an introductory level;
3.demonstrate an introductory level ability to communicate professionally in visual, verbal, and written modes, using technology where appropriate, in both individual and collaborative work environments.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8

Assessment name: Reflective Journal
Description: Thoughts on Urban Planning & Design
Throughout the semester you will draft and post (in an online forum) weekly reflections in response to questions posted by teaching staff. Your responses (8 total, each ~250 words) will be evaluated weekly with formative feedback provided by teaching staff. Questions will address topics covered in the unit lectures and prescribed readings, tutorial exercises, and preliminary work towards other assessments. Questions posed in Week 1 (due in Week 2) center upon why you've enrolled in the unit, what you expect to get out of the unit, and what you 'think' planners do, all with the intention of providing a point of reference for end of semester reflections. Questions posed in Weeks 2, 3, 4, and 5 (due in weeks 3, 4, 5, and 6) will aid in development of your response to Assessment 1 (Understanding & Communicating Perceptions & Use of Space), with formative feedback, from both teaching staff and your peers, intended to help your synthesis of ideas presented in lecture and engaged with in tutorials. Subsequent questions posed in Weeks 8, 9, and 10 (due in Weeks 9,10, and 11) will help you along with Assessment Three (Re-Thinking Urban Space: A Planning Analysis & Design Proposal for a Problem Site). You are encouraged to include sketches, photos, drawings and other media that aid in your responses to each question. Each of these weekly blogs will marked on a credit/no credit basis, with no credit given for blogs submitted after deadlines, accounting for 8% of unit marks. At the end of the semester, you will be tasked with drafting a longer (~750 words) statement assessing your own learning gains as a synthesis of the weekly reflections, valued at 12% of the overall unit marks. More information on this assessment is available in the project brief and CRA, both of which can be found on the unit Blackboard site.
Relates to objectives: 1.develop a basic understanding of what constitutes the fields of practice of both urban & regional planning and urban design, how they inter-relate, and what practitioners in each field actually do;
2.develop a basic understanding of theory underlying the fields of urban & regional planning and urban design and an ability to apply theoretical concepts to real places at an introductory level;
3.demonstrate an introductory level ability to communicate professionally in visual, verbal, and written modes, using technology where appropriate, in both individual and collaborative work environments; and
4.demonstrate an introductory level ability to appropriately select and use a variety of research and data analysis techniques.
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 16

Assessment name: Report
Description: Re-Thinking Urban Space: A Planning Analysis & Design Proposal for a Problem Site
Working in small, self-selected groups of up to three, you and your colleagues will select among a set of identified urban 'problem sites,' undertake analyses to describe the site relative to unit topics, and propose modifications to remedy the problem, applying knowledge gained throughout the unit. Your group will produce an illustrated, logically structured planning report presenting your analyses, establishing ties to unit topics, and justifying your design proposal, constituting 35% of the overall unit mark. Your submission will approximate professional standards, and is to be submitted in both print and electronic formats. All group members will receive the same mark for this portion of the assessment.
Each team member will also be tasked with undertaking self and peer assessments (available only to the unit coordinator) of contributions to the group effort. These assessments, along with follow-up consultations if required, will inform the final 5% of unit marks.
More information on this assessment is available in the project brief and CRA, both of which can be found on the unit Blackboard site.
Relates to objectives: 1.develop a basic understanding of what constitutes the fields of practice of both urban & regional planning and urban design, how they inter-relate, and what practitioners in each field actually do;
2.develop a basic understanding of theory underlying the fields of urban & regional planning and urban design and an ability to apply theoretical concepts to real places at an introductory level;
3.demonstrate an introductory level ability to communicate professionally in visual, verbal, and written modes, using technology where appropriate, in both individual and collaborative work environments;
4.demonstrate an introductory level ability to appropriately select and use a variety of research and data analysis techniques; and
5.demonstrate an ability to work cooperatively in a group.
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 15

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

Required Text:

There are two prescribed texts for this unit as listed below:

Carmona, M., T. Heath, T. Oc and S. Tiesdell. 2003. Public spaces-urban places: The dimensions of urban design. Oxford: Architectural Press.

Gehl, J. 2010. Cities for people. Washington, DC: Island Press.

In accordance with QUT policies, a copy of each of these texts will be available on reserve at the QUT Gardens Point Library (V-Block). Other required readings will be posted on the unit Blackboard site, as will various supplementary resources.

Recommended Software:

Computer lab tutorials will involve use of graphic design software, which is installed on many but not all computers in campus facilities - full information on the availability of the software in campus labs is included on the unit Blackboard site. Students undertaking a full course in Urban & Regional Planning at QUT are encouraged to consider purchase of a graphic design software package as it will be of use throughout your studies and beyond. Both Adobe Creative Suites and CorelDraw, two separate software options, are available for student purchase (for home use) at a substantial discount through QUT Bookshop and online.

Risk assessment statement

The unit will require you to participate in field trips of a supervised and self-guided nature. A risk assessment for these trips has identified only low impact risks. You will be provided with relevant safety guidelines prior to any field trip. You will be required to obey all safety guidelines and directions of teaching staff while on field trips.

Additional Costs
There are no additional costs, other than those listed under Resource Materials above, associated with this unit.

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: 19-Oct-2012