Topic outline

  • General

    Kejetia, Kumasi central market, Ghana

    ARK-E201001     Interplay of Cultures Research and Theory D

    Autumn 2021


    GENERAL COURSE INFO


    Welcome to the Interplay of Cultures Research and Theory seminar course!

    This course will give you an overview of the current discourse on the thematic areas of global sustainability and development in the world majority context – or Global South – in countries outside Europe. We will be focusing on the dilemma of sustainable urban and societal development from the environmental and cultural perspectives, through reading, writing and discussion.

    The course will run on Monday afternoons, from 13:15 to 17. It will take place virtually in zoom space.  

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/66159746639

    hosted by prof. Saija Hollmén

    Teachers: Taru Niskanen, Kristjana Adalgeirsdóttir, Secil Taskoparan Stassi


    Please NOTE: The first session is on Monday, Sept 13, 2021.  

    On Monday September 13, we will go throught general info, other practicalities. The course will use Miro to create common working platform where all the material during the course is shared.

    The primary working methods of the course are reading and discussion. For each seminar session, you will be requested to read two separate articles, which are indicated in the course schedule (presented on the first session on Sept 13). Everyone will read the articles assigned for the session.

    Each one of you will be asked to choose one of the predefined readings for closer scrutiny and prepare a 15 min presentation of it. From your chosen article, prepare at least 3 discussion points or questions of the reading, reflecting the perspective of the writer(s), their arguments and conclusions, as well as your own response and impressions of these.

    On each session, you will also be (randomly) divided into round table discussion groups in breakout rooms for 20 mins. The presenter of a reading assignment will act as a ‘host’ of the session (two sessions each Monday), chairing and facilitating the discussion in his/her group. In other groups a´host´is selected by the teachers. The discussion topics, important terms or words are collected on post-its in MIro.

    After the breakout rooms we return to the main session and the´host´of each group will summarize the discussion to other groups.

    In the end of the two sessions we write together a short diary - notes - on Miro platform.

    Attendance in the sessions (min 10 sessions), presentations and contributions on the discussions and writing diary notes, will give you 5 cr. In addition, you are asked to write 2 reflection essays (reflection essays should be 1-2 pages each / 2000-4000 characters with spaces. You can choose also to write 1 reflection essays and the total number of characters are min 4000 and max 8 000) on your chosen thematic areas. One of the reflection essays should be different from the different thematic area than the article you presented. These will give you 1 additional credit, to complete the 6 credits altogether.

    To pass the course and get 5 credits you will have to be present on 10 session. If you miss a session you can replace it by writing a 1 page (approximately 200 character with spaces) extra reflection essay. This has to be agreed with the teachers in beforehand. 

    In case you wish to withdraw your registration, please do so in Sisu by Monday Sept 6, 2021, to leave room for others and help the course scheduling. Thank you!

    To prepare for the first session, you are requested to read articles (2) about reflective practice:

    Moon, J. (2007). Getting the measure of reflection: considering matters of definition and depth, Journal of Radiotherapy and Practice, 6(4), 191-200.

    Clegg, S., Tan, J. & Saeidi, S., (2002). Reflecting or Acting? Reflective Practice and Continuing Professional Development in Higher Education, Reflective Practice,3:1,131-146,DOI: 10.1080/14623940220129924


    See you in zoom on Monday, Sept 13 at 13:15!

    https://aalto.zoom.us/j/66159746639

     


    Any questions? contact:  taru.niskanen@aalto.fi