LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course student will be able to:
- Comprehend basic principles and terminology related to worldbuilding.
- Comprehend the importance of imaginative ideas in building imaginary worlds.
- Apply techniques to elaborate on imaginative ideas.
- Analyze and critically evaluate the consistency of imaginary worlds.
- Generate a consistent imaginary world and present it through various media:
- Work in a team to research and communicate the content, context, and process of worldbuilding.
- Identify skills required for artistic collaboration and propose new perspectives.
- Propose activities based on individual interests and talents.
Credits: 9
Schedule: 28.04.2025 - 23.05.2025
Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Kaisa Mäkinen
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):
Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):
Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: Finnish, Swedish, English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
valid for whole curriculum period:
Worldbuilding is a process-oriented, interdisciplinary course aiming to construct an imaginary world that can serve as inspiration and source material for various narratives. The art and craft of worldbuilding has many useful applications for writers and designers.
Worldbuilding is a storytelling practice where the context for the narrative is created before telling the actual story: geography, flora and fauna, culture, societal system, inhabitants, technological level, geographical features, climate, history, etc.
This course gives inspiration on how to experiment on developing and combining ideas to create a consistent imaginary world, and how to present this world via visual, auditory, and other examples.
During the course students are encouraged to learn new ways of collaboration that can break traditional boundaries between disciplines.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
valid for whole curriculum period:
Participation in lectures, joint exercises and feedback given in the group. Successful completion of the course requires active attendance and completion of the assigned tasks by the deadline given by the teacher. Absences due to illness or other serious reasons are requested to be notified by e-mail primarily to the teacher whose lesson is absent (or, if this is not available, to the responsible teacher of the group). Substitutability is negotiated on a case-by-case basis with the responsible teacher.
Workload
valid for whole curriculum period:
Lectures, group discussions, presentations, writing assignments, peer learning, independent and group work and feedback. The course requires attendance in contact sessions including group and independent work.
Registration for courses is confirmed by attending the first class of the course. Students who drop out of the course without good reason will fail the course.
At least 80% participation in face-to-face teaching is mandatory to complete the course. If, due to absences, the student does not achieve the learning outcomes defined in the course description, the remaining 20% may have to be compensated as determined by the responsible teachers of the course. All absences must be reported to the teachers in charge. The responsible teachers of the course will specify the necessary compensating assignments.
Lectures ca 30h.
Contact teaching and feedback ca 50 h.
Student’s own and group work ca 70h.
Student’s own processing ca 10h.
Registration for courses is confirmed by attending the first class of the course. Students who drop out of the course without good reason will fail the course.
At least 80% participation in face-to-face teaching is mandatory to complete the course. If, due to absences, the student does not achieve the learning outcomes defined in the course description, the remaining 20% may have to be compensated as determined by the responsible teachers of
the course. All absences must be reported to the teachers in charge. The responsible teachers of the course will specify the necessary compensating assignments.
Lectures ca 30h.
Contact teaching and feedback ca 50 h.
Student’s own and group work ca 70h.
Student’s own processing ca 10h.
DETAILS
Study Material
valid for whole curriculum period:
Handouts will be provided during the course.
Substitutes for Courses
valid for whole curriculum period:
Prerequisites
valid for whole curriculum period:
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
12 Responsible Production and Consumption
13 Climate Action
FURTHER INFORMATION
Further Information
valid for whole curriculum period:
Teaching Language: English
Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Spring V
2025-2026 Spring VRegistration:
The course is intended for 3rd-year BA and MA students of the Department of Film or other students at Aalto upon separate application in connection with Sisu registration, at discretion.
Registration for courses is confirmed by attending the first class of the course. Students who interrupt the course without a good reason will fail the course.
Minimum number of participants 4
Maximum number of participants 22
Registration for courses Sisu. Priority order to courses is according to the order of priority decided by the Academic committee for School of Arts, Design and Architecture, https//www.aalto.fi/en/services/registering-to-courses-and-the-order-of-priority-at-aalto-arts