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

In the second year of study, planning students begin to learn how to define goals and objectives for guiding development at local and regional scales. In this unit, you will learn to sensitively appraise and purposefully analyse site conditions in order to articulate appropriate, feasible, and conscientious development recommendations. Upon successful completion of this unit, you will have learned processes, techniques and skills that will prepare you to apply for internships and longer-term professional positions.

Aims

This unit investigates and applies site appraisal and analysis techniques through a series of workshops and problem-based projects.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit, you should be able to do the following:
1. Apply and critically evaluate site planning processes, skills and techniques;
2. Offer and appropriately respond to constructive feedback, and
3. Effectively communicate planning recommendations and their rationales to appropriate audiences.

Content

This studio presents processes typical of 'real world' site planning, focusing specifically on site appraisal and analysis. However, it organizes them into skills workshops which complement practical application with instruction and constructive feedback from the teaching team and invited guests. You will have the opportunity to learn, practice and then apply a series of practical skills on a semester-long site planning project.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit includes a lecture component in addition to weekly three-hour workshop sessions in flexible technology (or studio) classrooms and computer labs.

The lecture component introduces topics and assessment requirements and provide a forum for critical discussion of site appraisal, analysis and planning techniques (outcomes #1-3).

Planning practice workshops provide opportunities to apply site appraisal and analysis techniques in order to address specific, real-world problems (outcome #1). They also provide a forum for formative, student-led feedback on work in progress (outcome #2), and for specific guidance from instructors on the site appraisal (assessment #1) and analysis (assessment #3).

Computer applications workshops provide hands-on instruction using electronic tools for development and presentation of site-planning projects (assessments #1 and #3). This semester's workshops will focus on multimedia, 2D and 3D presentation.

Assessment

This unit involves a combination of collaborative and independent work. Assessment is based on an independent site appraisal, a series of individual skill-building tasks, and a collaborative final analysis presentation. Several projects may be recommended for a formal presentation to local practitioners and/or community members.

Assessment for this unit adheres to the guidelines stated in section 5.1.1 of QUT's Manual of Policies and Procedures (MOPP).Feedback is offered by teaching staff to assist with assessment items. The three assessments are marked using Criterion Referenced Assessment (CRAs) and returned with summative feedback so that you may understand how you are progressing and how your work can be improved.

More importantly, you will exchange verbal and written feedback with colleagues and guest professionals regarding in-class exercises and work in progress. This formative feedback occurs in the form of face-to-face dialogues during class time and is a critical component of the studio experience. As such, regular attendance is required for you to achieve learning outcomes.

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: Site Appraisal
You will prepare a proposal for the site, including vision and objectives, to guide development and future use. Presentations should use multimedia communication with limited text.
Relates to objectives: Through this assessment, you will apply and critically evaluate site appraisal techniques and skills; offer and appropriately respond to constructive feedback, and effectively communicate planning recommendations and their rationales to appropriate audiences (outcomes #1-3).
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: Skills Exercises
You will work individually to complete a series of short skill-building exercises and keep a portfolio of that work. You will receive guidance and formative feedback from instructors during workshops, and receive written summative feedback following submission of the portfolio.
Relates to objectives: Through this assessment, you will apply and critically evaluate site appraisal techniques and skills; offer and appropriately respond to constructive feedback, and effectively communicate planning recommendations and their rationales to appropriate audiences (outcomes #1-3).
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Assessment name: Design
Description: Site Analysis and Recommendations
Building on assessment #1, you will work collaboratively with a study group to systematically analyse the project site and develop specific planning recommendations to present to invited guests.
Relates to objectives: Through this assessment, you will apply and critically evaluate site appraisal techniques and skills; offer and appropriately respond to constructive feedback, and effectively communicate planning recommendations and their rationales to appropriate audiences (outcomes #1-3).
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 13

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

Electronic copies of the base plans have been prepared by the teaching team and should be available on the first day of class. Students are required to print them and bring them to every following class period. Students are also required to bring adequate pens, pencils, scale rulers, yellow trace and tracing paper for a design studio.

Required Texts:
Tal, D. (2009) Google SketchUp for Site Design: A Guide to Modeling Site Plans, Terrain and Architecture. Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

LaGro, James A. Jr. (2008) Site Analysis: A Contextual Approach to Sustainable Land Planning and Site Design. Hoboken NJ: John Wiley & Sons.

Recommended Reading:
Additional reading materials and suggestions will be available in the week one information.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. A fieldtrip will be organised to the study site and you are required to visit construction sites. Therefore you must have a current Site Safety Card and safety equipment.

Additional Costs
This unit may require repeated travel within the greater Brisbane area, which would incur travel costs.

Assessment items may require large size colour printing as well as standard drafting tools such as pens, pencils, tracing paper and so forth.

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-Nov-2012