Credits: 6
Schedule: 08.01.2019 - 21.05.2019
Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Juanjo Galan
Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation):
Juanjo Galan (juanjo.galan@aalto.fi)
This course will facilitate a personal and collective investigation about the Sustainable Development concept; the multiple, complementary and sometimes contradictory approaches to it; and very specially, the way in which Sustainable Development can inform planning and design processes in landscape architecture, regional and urban planning, architecture and design.
The course will be structured in two phases. The first one will include a multifaceted study of the Sustainable Development concept through a set of lectures, discussions and reading seminars that will finalize in each session with the collective definition of key Questions and potential Answers (Synthesis, Inquiry & Hypothesis).
The second part of the course will include the preparation of an individual work in the intersection between the Sustainable Development concept (ontology, specific approaches, assessment methods, etc.) and a specific topic chosen by each student. This final work might be used to advance in the theoretical part of a Master Thesis (master students), to activate the preparation of a Research Plan (applicants for a Doctoral Position) or to initiate the preparation of a Conference paper or Research Article (doctoral students). This second part will include specific activities and mid-critiques to advance in the development of the main components of a research document (literature review, research questions, methods, analysis of results, discussion, etc.).
Teaching Period (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
III-V (spring 2019)
Learning Outcomes (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
During the course, students develop their skills to carry out landscape architecture research and participate in the scientific debate in the discipline. They can formulate consistent research questions and answer them by identifying the adequate research methodologies and by proposing a coherent research plan.
Content (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
The course includes a common part covering the basic concepts and methodologies in landscape architecture research, and an specific part in which each student researches one specific topic of his/her own interest. The work developed during the course can be used to initiate the preparation of a Master Thesis (MA students), to draft a potential paper or to refine a doctoral research plan (Doctoral candidates).
Details on the course content (applies in this implementation):
GENERAL LEARNING OUTCOMES: During the course, students develop their skills to carry out landscape architecture research and participate in the scientific debate in the discipline. They can formulate consistent research questions and answer them by identifying the adequate research methodologies and by proposing a coherent research plan.
SPECIFIC LEARNING OUTCOMES course 2019: During this specific course, the students undertaking the PART1 will familiarize with the main ontological, methodological, practical and disciplinary challenges related to the Sustainable Development concept.
In addition, the students undertaking also the PART2 of the course will be able to develop a coherent argumentation about the connections between the Sustainable Development concept and one specific topic of their own choice and interest. This argumentation will be structured around a Research Plan, the theoretical part of a Master Thesis or a Research paper.
GENERAL CONTENT: The course includes a common part covering the basic concepts and methodologies in landscape architecture research, and an specific part in which each student researches one specific topic of his/her own interest. The work developed during the course can be used to initiate the preparation of a Master Thesis (MA students), to draft a potential paper or to refine a doctoral research plan (Doctoral candidates).
SPECIFIC CONTENT: The course covers the specific contents:
PART1 (3 credits) Sustainable Development: the concept:
- The Sustainable Development concept, the apparent Oxymoron and the main families of approaches
- Social approaches and activism in Sustainable Development
- Ecology and quantitative methods in ecological studies (including data analysis)
- Assessing Sustainable Development
- System thinking and Speculative Models of the Future
- Economics and Policies for Sustainable Development
- Landscape and Sustainable Development
- Designing Sustainability Transitions
- ASSIGNMENTS PART1:
- - Reading Seminar 1
- - Learning Diary
- - Final Essay
PART2 (3 credits): Researching the connections between the Sustainable Development Concept and Landscape, architectural and design:
- Structure of a research plan/article + literature review
- Research Methods
- Research writing + publishing
- ASSIGNMENTS PART 2: Intermediate and Final Documents for the production of a Doctoral Research Plan, the theoretical part of a Master Thesis or a Research paper.
- - Rationale & Literature review
- - Research Questions, Methods & Results
- - Discussion
- - Final Document
Assessment Methods and Criteria (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
The course will include lectures, reading seminars, group discussions, seminar assignments, peer reviews and specially agreed work. The responsible teacher with the possible support of external experts will assess the intermediate and final outcomes. Further information given on MyCourses.
Elaboration of the evaluation criteria and methods, and acquainting students with the evaluation (applies in this implementation):
Grading Scale: 0-5
The final works will be assessed by the responsible teachers with the possible help of external experts. In order to pass the course, all the assignments and contributions to the reading seminars will have to be presented and passed.
Formative assessment: mid-reviews and open discussions with peers and teacher
Summative review: Mainly in the final review
Final assessment: by teacher with the possible collaboration of invited experts. The assessment will be based on the level of achievement of the intended learning outcomes, the level of understanding of the course contents and the capacity to generate consistent, innovative and well-presented proposals. In addition, the critical, effective and constructive participation in the discussions of the course will be positively valued.
Emphasis on the final grade: The assessment considers the process during the course and the final review is mainly connected to the capacity to communicate and to incorporate the feedback received during the mid-reviews and discussions.
The assignments will have the following weight in the final grade:
ASSIGNMENTS PART1:
Reading Seminar 1 (pass or fail)
Learning Diary (40% of final grade in part 1)
Final Essay (60% of final grade in part 1)
ASSIGNMENTS PART 2: Intermediate and Final Documents for the production of a Doctoral Research Plan, the theoretical part of a Master Thesis or a Research paper.
Rationale & Literature review (10% of final grade in part 2)
Research Questions, Methods & Results (10% of final grade in part 2)
Discussion (10% of final grade in part 2)
Final Document (70% of final grade in part 2)
NOTE1: The assessment will be based in the consistent use of the concepts introduced in each assignment and in the generation of complete, innovative and well-presented solutions for the proposed tasks. The assessment of the final assignment will also consider the academic quality of the final deliverables (narrative, conceptual, graphic). The final grade will also consider the evolution of the student during the whole course; her/his level of involvement and his/her capacity to generate relevant discussions and to provide constructive feedback to peers.
NOTE2: Students will be guided by tutors and peers during the tutoring sessions and mid-reviews to improve their performance in each assignment. Due to the continuous character of the course, students will be able to improve their works in the following assignments and in the final one.
The delay of submitted course work (assignments, etc.) affects its assessment:
If the work is delayed but submitted by the FIRST official submission date of the Department (1. jälkipalautuspäivä), the grade is lowered with one point (i.e. 3 becomes 2),
If the work is delayed but submitted by the SECOND official submission date of the Department (2. jälkipalautuspäivä), the grade is lowered with two points. (i.e. 3 becomes 1)
In the end of the course the instructor may also accept unsubmitted work which is almost accomplished, but the unfinishedness of the work is taken into consideration in the grading and the Students undertaking the theoretical/seminar course should attend all the lectures, all the reviews, participate in the reading seminars and prepare a final report (10-15 pages) of the course summarizing the work prepared by the students attending the full course (assignments 1, 2, 3, 4 and final) and proposing possible improvements in the produced works.
Workload (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Tutored studies 40 hrs (lectures, seminars, reviews), independent study 40-120 hrs (readings and preparation of the assignments), in total 160 hrs.
Details on calculating the workload (applies in this implementation):
WORKLOAD (1 credit = 27 hours): 81-162 hours.
1st part of the course (3 credits) = 81 hours (40% tutored (32 hours), 60 % independent (49 hours)).
2st part of the course (3 credits) = 81 hours (25% tutored (20 hours), 75 % independent (61 hours))
Study Material (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Distributed during the course.
Details on the course materials (applies in this implementation):
The materials will be distributed during the course (readings, lectures, etc)
Substitutes for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
MAR-E1006, MA.94-3340 Theory of Landscape Architecture.
Course Homepage (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=MAR-E1006
Prerequisites (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
Bachelor degree in landscape architecture or other disciplines linked to the topic
Grading Scale (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
0-5
Registration for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
WebOodi. For the registration period see WebOodi.
The order of priority for admitting students to courses at Aalto ARTS 1.1.2018 onwards (approved by The Committee of Arts, Design and Architecture on 10.10.2017)
The order of priority is as follows:
- students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have scheduled it for the current academic year in their personal study plan (HOPS);
- exchange students for whom the course is a part of his/her officially approved learning agreement and scheduled to be taken during the current semester;
- students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have not completed it yet;
- students, for whom the course is part of his/her major’s or programme’s alternative studies and has been scheduled in the student's PSP (HOPS) for the current academic year
- students, for whom the course is part of his/her major’s or programme’s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
- students for whom the course is compulsory for their minor;
- students, for whom the course is part of his/her minor subject’s alternative studies and who have not completed the requisite number of credits for alternative studies yet;
- students who have applied for the course through a student mobility scheme (internal mobility within Aalto University, flexible study right (JOO) studies etc.);
- other students.
Courses that are intended to be multidisciplinary (e.g. UWAS courses) may apply an order of priority based on the learning outcomes of the course, while bearing in mind the university obligation of enabling students to complete their degrees within the normative duration of study set for the degree. The order of priority does not apply to courses organised by the Centre for General Studies or doctoral courses.
This decision on the order of priority does not influence the right of the teacher to define prerequisites for the course.
Further Information (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020):
The minimum number of participants is 5 students
Additional information for the course (applies in this implementation):
See MyCourses
Details on the schedule (applies in this implementation):
PART1: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE CONCEPT
8.1.2019 (3 h)
Presentation of the course
Lecture 1 (Juanjo Galan): Sustainable Development: Introduction to the Concept, current convergences and divergences, main approaches and challenges
SEMINAR_1 (reading seminar): Sustainable Development: the Concept
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
Next steps: Learning Diary & BLOG + Reading(s) for the next session
15.1.2019 (4 h)
Lecture 2a (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
Lecture 2b (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
NOTE: Lectures 2a and 2b can be grouped and can be followed by a joint discussion
Next steps: Learning Diary & BLOG + Reading(s) for the next session
22.1.2019 (4 h)
Lecture 3a (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
Lecture 3b (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
NOTE: Lectures 3a and 3b can be grouped and can be followed by a joint discussion
Next steps: Learning Diary & BLOG + Reading(s) for the next session
29.1.2019 (4 h)
Lecture 4a (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
Lecture 4b (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
NOTE: Lectures 4a and 4b can be grouped and can be followed by a joint discussion
Next steps: Learning Diary & BLOG + Reading(s) for the next session
5.2.2019 (4 h)
Lecture 5a (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
Lecture 5b (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
NOTE: Lectures 5a and 5b can be grouped and can be followed by a joint discussion
Next steps: Learning Diary & BLOG + Reading(s) for the next session
12.2.2019 (4 h)
Lecture 6a (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
Lecture 6b (by XXXXX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
NOTE: Lectures 6a and 6b can be grouped and can be followed by a joint discussion
Next steps: Learning Diary & BLOG + Reading(s) for the next session
19.2.2019 (4 h)
Lecture 7a (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
Lecture 7b (by XXXXX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
NOTE: Lectures 7a and 7b can be grouped and can be followed by a joint discussion
Next steps: Learning Diary & BLOG + Reading(s) for the next session
26.2.2019 (4 h)
Lecture 8a (by XX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
Lecture 8b (by XXXXX): One of the group of topics listed at the end of this schedule
Group Discussion: Research Questions and Potential Answers and Research Methods (joint Synthesis, Inquiry and Hypothesis)
NOTE: Lectures 8a and 8b can be grouped and can be followed by a joint discussion
Next steps: Learning Diary & BLOG + Finalization of the Final ESSAY of the PART1 (10-15 pages, summary of the course + personal findings for the students´ discipline + proposal of topic for the part2 for those students taking the full course)
5.3.2019 (4 h)
SEMINAR_2 (Wrap-up PART1): Summary of the Final Essays of the part 1 (10 minutes per student + 10 minutes for peer feedback)
Group Discussion: Final Wrap-up of the part1 of the course
PART2: RESEARCHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND LANDSCAPE, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
12.3.2019 (2 h)
Lecture 9 (by XX): Approaches to Research: Typical Structures of a Research Plan/ Research Output + Topic, Rationale, Research Questions and Background Information (literature review)
REVIEW OF ASSIGNMENT_1: Research topic, objectives, basic research questions, list of basic readings preselected by each student and work/research plan (10 minutes per student). (NOTE: include DIAGRAMS, FLOW CHARTS, etc.)
Next steps: Advance in the Assignment 2 (literature review)
19.3.2019
Free tutoring
26.3.2019 (4 h)
REVIEW OF ASSIGNMENT_2: Main findings in the literature review and update of the work/research plan (15 min per student + 10 minutes for peer feedback). (NOTE: include DIAGRAMS, FLOW CHARTS, etc. Try to combine all the literature review in a unified system)
Group Discussion: Informing your Research with existing information: potentials and challenges
Next steps: Advance in the Assignment 3 (profiling Research Questions and Exploring Methods for answering them).
2.4.2019 (2 h)
Lecture 10 (by XX): Research Methods in Landscape Architecture, Architecture and design
SEMINAR_5: Tentative Methods proposed by each student to advance in his/her research (10 min per student)
Next steps: Advance in the Assignment 3 (profiling Research Questions and Exploring Methods for answering them).
9.4.2019
Free tutoring
16.4.2019 (4 h)
REVIEW OF ASSIGNMENT_3: Research Questions, Research Methods and Potential Results (15 min per student + 10 min feedback) (NOTE: include DIAGRAMS, FLOW CHARTS, etc.)
Group Discussion: Research Methods and production of results: Challenges and potential solutions
Next steps: Advance in the Assignment 4 (Results and in the Discussion. NOTE: students working in a Doctoral Research Plan might concentrate in other issues such as Schedule and Publishing Plan).
23.4.2019
Free tutoring
30.4.2019 (4 h)
REVIEW OF ASSIGNMENT_4: Results and Discussion (15 min + 10 min for peer feedback)
Group Discussion: What makes a consistent Discussion chapter?
Next steps: Prepare a draft version of your Final Assignment.
7.5.2019 (2 h)
Lecture 11 (by XXXXX): Writing and Publishing in Research
SEMINAR_6: Peer and expert feedback about the draft version of your Final Assignment
Next steps: Advance towards the final assignment.
14.5.2019
Free tutoring
21.5.2019 (4 h)
FINAL ASSIGNMENT: Submission and Presentation of your final Research Output (15 min per person + 15 min for peer feedback)
Group DISCUSSION