Topic outline

  • Introduction

    This Introduction to research course is compulsory for MA students in the Department of Art and Media. The course aims to foster a pedagogical approach that brings together all the students in the different majors. It does this by implementing two major modules of study: A Core Module that is common to all and Parallel Module sessions with thematic content that is major specific.


    Part 1: Core Module for All relevant topics touch on basic concepts, 2 ECTS.

    Part 2: Parallel Module sessions that are major-specific and touch on thematic content 4 ECTS.

     

    Part 1 Core Module for all relevant topics / all students attend (to get the basic concepts, 2 ECTS)  

    Learning objectives for the Core Module

    1. To communicate the basic principles of what is research in art and media. 

    2. To learn about contextualizing and positioning one’s own research in different discussions & discourses.

    3. To provide students with examples of different types of research.

    4. To learn about the state-of-the research.


     Implementation

     These objectives are achieved via four (4) sessions of three (3) contact hours each. These time slots include the following:

    1. A lecture, followed by Question and Answer period with pragmatic discussions carried out in smaller groups, 

    2. A final session that is used by participating students (organized in groups) to work on a Research Poster exercise that highlights their interpretation of the ideas that have been presented and discussed throughout the module. The Research Posters created through the course are displayed in an exhibition that takes place at the end of the course.

    Part 2, Parallel Module sessions that are major-specific

    The course has been planned so that there would be seven (7) parallel modules about research methods in the following thematics (majors): Art education, Game Design, New Media, Photography, Sound Design, VICCA and Visual Communication Design. Each of module has been allocated its own classroom space. However, note that for the 2023 edition of the course there is no Photography module, since there are no new incoming students to this major. Also, for this edition, VICCA and Visual Communication Design students are gathered into one group and New Media and Sound in New Media are combined into one group.

     Assignments are developed within different parallel modules. This means that teachers can choose one option to suit their course’s needs, in addition to research plan that is mandatory for all.

    Among the options for assignments are:

    • Preliminary research plan (mandatory for all)

    • Research presentation

    • Research poster

    • Essay / exam

    • Learning diary (mandatory for all)


    For more information see: 

    M01 - Taidekasvastus (https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/view.php?id=37600§ion=2)

    M02/M03 - VCD & ViCCA (https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/view.php?id=37600§ion=3)

    M05 - Game Design & Development (https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/view.php?id=37600§ion=4)

    M07 and M06 - New Media and Sound in New Media (https://mycourses.aalto.fi/course/view.php?id=37600§ion=6)