Please note! Course description is confirmed for two academic years, which means that in general, e.g. Learning outcomes, assessment methods and key content stays unchanged. However, via course syllabus, it is possible to specify or change the course execution in each realization of the course, such as how the contact sessions are organized, assessment methods weighted or materials used.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon succesfull completion of the course the students will be able to distinguish the main problems and topics of planning theory, such as knowledge, rationality, power, participation and culture, as well as the main schools of thought in planning theory, such as rational planning, incrementalism, advocacy planning, communicative planning and strategic planning. They will be able to discuss critically these issues, as well as read theoretical articles and write academic essays. They will be able to address the practical relevance of theoretical thinking.
Credits: 6
Schedule: 13.01.2021 - 17.02.2021
Teacher in charge (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022): Kimmo Lapintie
Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Kimmo Lapintie
Contact information for the course (valid 22.12.2020-21.12.2112):
Professor Kimmo Lapintie, @aalto.fi, +358505842710
Dr.Tech (Arch.) Helena Teräväinen, @aalto.fi
Dr.Tech Hanna Mattila, @aalto.fi
CEFR level (applies in this implementation):
Language of instruction and studies (valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022):
Teaching language: English
Languages of study attainment: English
CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD
Content
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Theory and practice. Knowledge and rationality in planning and rational planning theory. Power and participation and the corresponding communicative and agonistic planning theories. Strategic planning and blueprint planning. Culture and systems in the city. Using theory to analyse practical planning cases in cities.
Applies in this implementation:
Planning Theory is a course that is very dependent on student input, and this is why each student needs to be present at each session (organised in zoom). After an introductory lecture the students will read a scientific article or book chapter each week and present it to their group with a couple of slides on the main contents and key concepts, followed by a discussion. The main themes of the course (rationality and knowledge, power and participation, blueprints and strategic planning, art and culture, space and place, humanism and post-humanism) are addressed weekly during the first six weeks. On the 7th week of the period, the students are divided into groups of two or three and they present a real case in planning and urban development and analyse it with the concepts learned during the course. The last assignment is an academic essay written individually on a chosen subject that will reflect on the problematic of the course. This essay replaces the portfolio that has been used earlier.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
The students will be assessed based on their discussion and presentations in the seminars (20%), their essays (40%) and their portfolio (40%). The assessment criteria will be the quality of academic debate and presentation skills, their writing skills, and the ability to understand and address the key points in literature and weekly themes of discussion.
Applies in this implementation:
NOTE: In 2021, changes have been made in the implementation of the course compared to pre-pandemic 2020. Instead of shorter weekly essays, students will give presentations with a couple of slides and write a longer essay instead of the portfolio. Since Planning Theory is a theoretical course, the student performance will be assessed with standard academic criteria. These include an ability to read critically academic texts, understand their key contents and conceptual framework, present the findings in a systematic way, participate in critical debate, and write an academic essay in reasonably good English. The teachers will participate in the discussion and give feedback on the essay. The student performance will be graded from 0 to 5, with roughly the following criteria:
0 (fail): The student will fail to participate in the seminars and present the articles without justified reason (e.g. health, failure of technology). Travelling or failing to enter Finland should not be an obstacle, since the course is organised in distance mode. If this justified failure happens more than once, the student is required to take the course later or compensate it with individual research paper of major proportion; this is a necessary requirement, since other students are dependent on the presentations of the articles. Also if the presentations clearly indicate that the articles have not been read, or the essay represents gross failure to understand or express oneself in writing, the course can be failed.
1: The student has read the articles and presents them, but there are serious misunderstandings and/or superficiality. Passivity in the discussion and group work. The essay presents very poor academic quality in terms of argumentation, use of literature and language.
2: The student has read the articles and presents them, but many of the key concepts or arguments have been misunderstood or the presentation is unclear. Relative passivity or unjustified dominance in discussion and the group work. The essay presents modest academic quality in terms of argumentation, use of literature or language.
3: The student has read and understood the articles and presents them in a clear way. Active participation in the discussion and the group work. The essay presents adequate academic quality in terms of argumentation, use of literature and language.
4: The student has read and understood the articles and presents the findings and conceptual framework in a critical and creative way. Active participation and major input in the discussion and the presentation of the group work. The essay presents high academic quality in terms of argumentation, use of literature and language.
5: The student has read analytically and understood the articles and presents the findings and conceptual framework in a critical and creative way. She/he clearly stands out in the discussion and the presentation of the group work. The essay presents very high academic quality in terms of argumentation, use of literature and academic English.
As can be seen in these standard academic criteria, they are qualitative and cannot be quantified. Nevertheless, they represent theoretical skills that are necessary in using the results of scientific research and participating in critical debate, as well as pursuing an academic career or critical practice.
Workload
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Attending the seminars 18 + 18
Reading and preparing presentations to the seminars 54
Writing the essays 54
Writing the portfolio 16Applies in this implementation:
In 2021, changes have been made in the implementation of the course compared to the above calculation. The combined workload is 160 hours, corresponding to 6 credits. Attending to the seminars and their reflection is calculated to take 42 hours (7x3 hours in seminars and 7x3 for reflection). Reading the articles and preparing the presentations should take 48 hours (8x6). Doing he group work and preparing the presentation of the case should be possible in 16 hours. Instead of shorter weekly essays and portfolio, a longer essay (around 10-15 pages) is required, the rest of the workload (54 hours) is reserved for that (extending four weeks after the 3rd period).
DETAILS
Study Material
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
The articles studied will be distributed before the course starts.
Substitutes for Courses
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
First half of ARK-L5000 Planning Theory and Urban Studies
Prerequisites
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
BSc in architecture or related field.
Registration for Courses
Valid 01.08.2020-31.07.2022:
Aalto oodi.
Applies in this implementation:
Additional information will be given in MyCourses before and during the course.
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals
3 Good Health and Well-being
5 Gender Equality
8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10 Reduced Inequality
11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
13 Climate Action
14 Life Below Water
15 Life on Land
16 Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
17 Partnerships for the Goals
FURTHER INFORMATION
Details on the schedule
Applies in this implementation:
The course starts the 13th of January 2021, and it continues with the six weekly themes until the 17th of February, with 3 hour meetings at 9:15-12. On the 7th week, the case studies are presented. Within four weeks after the seminars, the final essay should be returned. Literature for the first meeting (dependent on the number of participants and groups) will be distributed in MyCourses one week before the course starts.
- Teacher: Lapintie Kimmo
- Teacher: Mattila Hanna
- Teacher: Teräväinen Helena