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

The aim of the course is to provide challenging environment for action, where the students are encouraged to experiment their ideas related to a given theme with a brave and open-minded attitude. The main objectives of the course are (1) to nourish the creative process with material exploration and experiments with different techniques and (2) to support the self-managing of the creative process with documentation, reflection and discussions. Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:

* Identify suitable ways to document their ideas, processes and outcomes

* Understand how creative process proceeds

* Implement their ideas in to a form of an artefact by using a variety of skills, tools and materials

* Organise the issues related to their creative process in a written format

* Coordinate their own creative process

* Produce a tangible art/craft piece or design and reflect on its birth and meaningfulness in written format

Credits: 10

Schedule: 13.09.2021 - 29.10.2021

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Maarit Mäkelä, Kristiina Tengvall, Mervi Palva

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

Maarit Mäkelä, maarit.makela@aalto.fi, +358 50 3722168

Bilge Aktas, bilge.aktas@aalto.fi, +358 46 9524175

CEFR level (valid for whole curriculum period):

Language of instruction and studies (applies in this implementation):

Teaching language: English. Languages of study attainment: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Each year the course have special theme and the course starts with five-days excursion to the theme-related destination in Finland. The starting point of the course is an idea of a researching artist/designer with a capability to conceptualize the perceived phenomena and experience. For supporting the process, the students keep working diary throughout the course. In the diary, the students reflect the working process by sketching and writing. In addition, the students document the entire process by photographing, videotaping or with other recording media. The students can utilise different studios when elaborating their individual tasks and producing their final artefact. This work is supported with tutoring sessions, shared discussions, lectures, excursions and literature assignments. The course consists in three phases: (I) collecting information (excursions, lectures, literature); (II) processing and interpreting the collected data (working in studios, sharing the process in group sessions); and (III) presenting the interpretation (final artefact and related exhibition).

  • applies in this implementation

    The topic of this course is 'ground' and the destination of the journey is Koli.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    For passing the course, the student has to participate in excursion, lectures and group activity (80%), and present the final artefact. After the course, the student has to deliver learning diary. Evaluation criteria: activity during the course, the creative process, quality of the final artefact and learning diary.

  • applies in this implementation

    Course evaluation 0 (failed) – 5 (excellent) and is based on the following four criteria:

    25 % Active participation in lectures, other excursions and group activity

    25 % Creative process

    25 % Final artefact

    25 % Final reflection



Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    270 h / 10 cr

    Journey 54 h / 2 cr

    Briefing, reviews, lecturing and tutoring sessions 54 h / 2 cr

    Independent art/craft/design work 108 h / 4 cr

    Learning diary 27 h / 1 cr

    Personal reflection 27 h / 1 cr

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Kosonen, Krista & Mäkelä, Maarit (2012). Designing platform for exploring and reflecting on creative process. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences 45, 227 238. Other literature sources will be given during the course.

  • applies in this implementation

    The article will be the first reading task. It will be discussed together in the reading circle during the first week of the course, on Thursday 16.9. starting at 9.15.

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    4 Quality Education

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Please notice that the enrollment time ends two weeks before the course starts. The acceptance will be informed to all applicants one week before the start of the course.

    The course will start with 5 days journey to a destination in Finland. The travel and accommodation costs will be covered by Aalto, but the student has to pay 120 for the food.

     

     

    Teaching Period:

    2020-2021 Spring IV

    2021-2022 Spring IV

    Course Homepage: https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/search.php?search=MUO-E5020

    Registration for Courses: Sisu replaces Oodi on 9 August, 2021. 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-in-aalto-arts

    WebOodi

    Max 15 students. Priority to Contemporary Design students who have this course accepted in their personal study plan. 

    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:

    1. 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);
    2. 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;
    3. students for whom the course is compulsory for their major/programme and who have not completed it yet;
    4. 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
    5. 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;
    6. students for whom the course is compulsory for their minor;
    7. 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;
    8. students who have applied for the course through a student mobility scheme (internal mobility within Aalto University, flexible study right (JOO) studies etc.);
    9. 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.

     

  • applies in this implementation

    This is an extra course that replaces the Personal Exploration course that was cancelled during Spring term 2021 due to pandemic. The course is open for the students that were already accepted for that course - and finally removed to Autumn term 2021.

Details on the schedule
  • applies in this implementation

    The course follows the following weekly schedule:

    MONDAY: Personal assignment

    TUESDAY: full day group meeting in Otaniemi

    WEDNESDAY: Personal  / Group assignment

    THURSDAY: Reading circle & lecture in Otaniemi (half or full day) + Possibility for personal tutoring

    FRIDAY: Personal assignment


    The first week of the course 13-17.9.2021 will take place in the premises of Otaniemi Campus.

    The second week of the course 20-24.9. we will travel together in Koli.