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

  • Characterise and communicate the general indoor contaminants and their sources affecting measured and perceived indoor air quality   
  • Describe possible health effects of general indoor air  contaminants and recognize the most harmful contaminants for human health
  • Describe the means of reducing harmful contaminants in indoor environments
  • Demonstrate and apply the methods and good practices for assessing indoor air quality
  • Determine and use the available legislation and guidelines for interpreting  indoor air quality measurements and analysis in different indoor environments
  • Describe the major types of climate-induced indoor environmental problems
  • Develop an improved comprehension of scientific literature relevant to the field of indoor air quality
  • Group working and presentation skills

Credits: 5

Schedule: 25.02.2025 - 10.04.2025

Teacher in charge (valid for whole curriculum period):

Teacher in charge (applies in this implementation): Heidi Salonen

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: English

CONTENT, ASSESSMENT AND WORKLOAD

Content
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures and relates to the health, comfort and productivity of building occupants. This course will help students recognize the factors that affect measured and perceived indoor air quality in non-industrial indoor environments such as residents and different public buildings (e.g. schools, offices, daycare centers, hospitals). The course familiarizes students with health effects caused by various agents typically known to cause indoor air quality concerns including moulds, and provide an understanding of the various methods as well as suggestions and guidelines available for the assessment of indoor air quality and mould issues. The course also provides knowledge of good practices and management processes for solving indoor air quality problems as well as knowledge of climate-induced indoor environmental problems. The course also offers an overview of scientific writing in a subject area. Within the course participants are required to write a learning report, work in pairs and in groups and provide presentations in order to develop communication and presentation skills.

Assessment Methods and Criteria
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Grade: 0-5 based on the learning report (the report contains 10 different parts, which will be evaluated).
    The learning report includes homework, individual assignments, pair work assignments, groupwork assingments as well as a learning diary within each part.

    Scale: 5 (=excellent), 4 (=very good), 3 (=good), 2 (=satisfactory), 1 (weak), 0 (=rejected).
    Note! All sections must be passed with an acceptable grade.
    Two presentation events are mandatory.

Workload
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Contact hours (26.5 h):
    -Lectures: 11 h
    -Measurement demonstrations/company presentations about the measurement methods: 3 h
    - Visit to a company (/laboratories): 3 h
    -In -class assignments (facilitated assingments): 9.5 h
    Independent work (107 h):
    - Group work assignments: 25 h
    - Pair work assignments: 10 h
    - Individual assignments: 15 h
    - Reading the lecture and background materials: 10 h
    - Preparation for learning report: 47 h
    Total 133, 5 h

DETAILS

Study Material
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    There will not be a textbook for this course. Teaching materials for the course are lecture notes, assignment materials and other relevant literature  (the list of of materials will be provided in the beginning of the course).

     

Substitutes for Courses
Prerequisites
SDG: Sustainable Development Goals

    3 Good Health and Well-being

    11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further Information
  • valid for whole curriculum period:

    Teaching Language: English

    Teaching Period: 2024-2025 Spring IV
    2025-2026 Spring IV

    Registration:

    Registration for the course will take place on Sisu (sisu.aalto.fi).