Credits: 5

Schedule: 08.01.2019 - 19.02.2019

Contact information for the course (applies in this implementation): 

If you have anything to ask about the course, please contact me:

Marketta Kyttä

marketta.kytta@aalto.fi

Teaching Period (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

III (spring term)

Learning Outcomes (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

The aim of the course is to introduce the student the possibilities to use research on person-environment relationship in land use planning. The course explores the experiential world of an urban dweller or the user of urban places. After the course the student:

  • Can identify the main approaches on person-environment transactions and human experiences in various urban settings
  • Knows a variety of methodological approaches of environmental psychology and human-environmental research and has a capability to apply some of them in knowledge creation for land use planning projects
  • Knows how to gather and analyze information about urban experiences and how to search scientific knowledge from empirical person-environment research

In addition she/he also

  • Can critically evaluate the quality of urban spaces or the quality of plans from the point view of the human experience
  • Can apply person-environment research in land use planning

Content (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

The course focuses on the study of urban experiences in relation to the physical characteristics of the settings. During the course the student will learn about the classic approaches in person-environment research and environmental psychology. These themes include:

  • Aesthetic experiences
  • Sense of community
  • Perceived safety
  • Restorative environments
  • Childfriendly Environments
  • Place attachment

Each theme will be studied both theoretically and empirically. In addition, the course will cover some more holistic themes, such as social sustainability and various urban lifestyles.

When possible, a collaboration with a real-life planning case will be realized.

Details on the course content (applies in this implementation): 

This year we will focus on the analysis of datasets from users of urban space. This will be realized as a group work.

We will collaborate with the cities of Espoo and Helsinki, who have collected place-based datasets from inhabitans related to various, topical challenges in urban planning projects. These datasets need some further analysis and we will help them!

PLEASE NOTICE! There is a pretask! More information in the front page of the My courses.

Assessment Methods and Criteria (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

The course utilizes student-centered learning methods. The methods include online learning, group work and lectures. Assessment is based on the project work that is realized in groups as well as on individual performance.

Elaboration of the evaluation criteria and methods, and acquainting students with the evaluation (applies in this implementation): 

Course evaluation:

30% Individual assignment & presentation

10% Classroom activity

60% Group work & presentations

Workload (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Lectures 20 h (10 x 2h)
Online sessions 6 h
Course project work 109 h
Total 135 h (5 cr)

Details on calculating the workload (applies in this implementation): 

Although part of the group work will be realized during the contact session, please be prepared to work quite a lot also between the contact sessions.

Study Material (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Academic readings and self-collected data using smart methods like softGIS.

Details on the course materials (applies in this implementation): 

This year the public participation GIS datasets collected by the cities of Espoo and Helsinki will comprise and important set of materials for the course work.

Course Homepage (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=SPT-E5020

Grading Scale (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

0-5

Registration for Courses (valid 01.08.2018-31.07.2020): 

Max 40 students. The priority will be given to the students of Master's Programme in Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering.

Details on the schedule (applies in this implementation): 

The detailed schedule will be published in the front page of Mycources the latest 2.1.2019.

Description

Registration and further information