Topic outline

  • General

    In the course Planning Theory, we will read classical texts in the field of planning theory, write mind maps and summaries and work in groups to familiarise ourselves with the most topical themes in planning theory. You will also author an essay covering a topic of your choice.


    Teachers

    Aino Hirvola, aino.hirvola@aalto.fi (teacher in charge)
    Eva Purkarthofer, eva.purkarthofer@aalto.fi
    Oya Duman, oya.duman@aalto.fi
    Jonne Hytönen, jonne.p.hytonen@jyu.fi

    Feedback to teachers
    You can give feedback to the teachers and raise issues throughout the course through this form: 

    Program, Fall 2023 (subject to minor changes)

    Period I (12.9.-10.10.), Tuesdays 14.15-15.45
    Lecture room R2, Rakentajanaukio 4

    Period II (24.10.-5.12.), Tuesdays 13.15-14.45 
    Design Factory, Puumiehenkuja 5A OR Lecture room U7 (U135a), Otakaari 1


    12.9. Introduction to planning theory


    19.9. Justification of planning
    Readings (choose one):

    Group 1 reads all three articles and introduces them to others.
    Everyone prepares a mind map summary of their chosen article and prepares to discuss it in the session.
    Location: Lecture room R2 (Rakentajanaukio 4)


    26.9. Rational planning, “bounded rationality” and wicked problems
    Readings (choose one):
    Group 2 reads all three articles and introduces them to others.
    Everyone prepares a mind map summary of their chosen article and prepares to discuss it in the session.
    Location: Lecture room R2 (Rakentajanaukio 4)


    3.10. Knowledge in planning
    Readings (choose one):
    Group 3 reads all three articles and introduces them to others.
    Everyone prepares a mind map summary of their chosen article and prepares to discuss it in the session.
    Location: Lecture room R2 (Rakentajanaukio 4)


    10.10. Advocacy planning and transactive planning
    Readings (choose one):

    Group 4 reads all three articles and introduces them to others.
    Everyone prepares a mind map summary of their chosen article and prepares to discuss it in the session.
    Location: Lecture room R2 (Rakentajanaukio 4)


    17.10. No group session (exam week), individual working.
    Decide about your essay title and write a short description of the contents


    24.10. Communicative planning theory
    Readings (choose one):

    Group 5 reads all three articles and introduces them to others.
    Everyone prepares a mind map summary of their chosen article and prepares to discuss it in the session..
    Location: Design Factory, Puumiehenkuja 5A

    31.10. Agonistic planning
    Readings (choose one):
    Group 6 reads all three articles and introduces them to others.
    Everyone prepares a mind map summary of their chosen article and prepares to discuss it in the session..
    Location: Design Factory, Puumiehenkuja 5A


    7.11. Writing clinic 1
    Prepare the first draft of your essay and send it to your opponent beforehand. Prepare to introduce your essay to your group and act as an opponent.
    Location: U7 (U135a), Otakaari 1


    14.11. Justice and ethics in planning
    Readings (choose one):
    Group 7 reads all three articles and introduces them to others.
    Everyone prepares a mind map summary of their chosen article and prepares to discuss it in the session.
    Location: Design Factory, Puumiehenkuja 5A

    21.11. Context-sensitivity in planning
    Readings (choose one):
    • To be added...
    Group 8 reads all three articles and introduces them to others.
    Everyone prepares a mind map summary of their chosen article and prepares to discuss it in the session.
    Location: U7 (U135a), Otakaari 1


    28.11. Writing clinic 2
    Prepare the second version of your essay and send the essay to your opponent beforehand. Prepare to introduce your essay to your group and act as an opponent.
    Location: U7 (U135a), Otakaari 1


    5.12. Theory and practice – reflection and course feedback
    Readings (choose one):

    Group 9 reads all three articles and introduces them to others.
    Everyone prepares a mind map summary of their chosen article and prepares to discuss it in the session.
    Location: Design Factory, Puumiehenkuja 5A


    Grading
    Grading will be based on your essay (50%), your mind map summaries (30%), group presentation (10%), and participation in the discussions (10%). Note that you are required to pass the essay assignment as well as the mind map summaries & group presentation to pass the course. See details for the assessment.


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  • Materials

  • Mind map summaries

    Prepare a mind map summary of the article that you chose to read. Please use the template provided, name it “Xxx_Mind map summary_Y”. Xxx = your last name. Y = number of the topic. Make your submission before the session (by 2pm in period I; by 1pm in period 2) so you are prepared to discuss your findings in the classroom. Later your mind map summaries will be of help when you write your essay.

    The template has three sections, fill in them all:
    1)    Date + topic of the day; name of the student; article title; article author
    2)    Mind map
    3)    Summary


    Add to the mind map a) the most important concepts brought up in the article, b) the problem(s) that the article addresses, c) proposed solution(s). Feel free to rearrange the mind map, and add/delete boxes and connections if you want. Below it, write a short text (200-350 words) based on the mind map, in which you summarize the article in your own words. See also the assessment.

    Some ideas to guide your writing: 
    • Explain the concepts, problems and the solutions in more detail.
    • Think about the connections to themes previously read/discussed in the lecture (e.g. what's common, what's different).
    • Add reflections of your own (e.g., think about the applicability of the article's ideas to current societies; discuss the pros and cons of the proposed solution).
    • You can also think about the following: Are the arguments convincing? Do you agree with the author(s)? If you were a planner, would you find the article useful?


    NOTE: You will not submit a mind map summary to writing clinic sessions and when it is your group's turn to make the group presentation. You can also skip one other topic. Thus, you make a total of 7 submission.

  • Group presentation

    For each session, we have designated one group to introduce the topic to other students. The designated group reads all related three articles and presents the key contributions of the articles to planning theory. The groups are also supposed to form 2-3 questions for the others to discuss. (approximately 15 min. presentation, excluding discussion)

    Groups should use ppt slides (or similar) to illustrate their presentation. Group submits the presentation (slides) before the lecture. Name the presentation according to the example: GROUP 1_Presentation.pdf. Write the names of all participants in the first slide/page.


  • Essay

  • Assessment

    Grading will be based on your essay (50%), your mind map summaries (30%), group presentation (10%), and participation in the discussions (10%). Note that you are required to pass the essay assignment as well as the mind map summaries & group presentation to pass the course.

    Mind map summaries (30 %)

    • Required to pass the course
    • Grade 1-5
    • 7 summaries altogether (you can submit mind map summaries each time, but maximum of 7 is graded).
    • You will not submit a mind map summary when your group is presenting. You can skip one other topic.
    • Minimum of 4 submissions is required to pass the course, but the missing submissions will lower your grade.


    Essay (50 %)

    • Required to pass the course
    • Grade 1-5
    • What is assessed:
      Content and the approach; the essay should be well connected to planning theoretical discussions
      Structure (introduction, main body, concusions/discussion)
      Arguments and own reflection
      Language and style  
      Literature: material used, referencing
      Length (10 000 – 12 000 characters)

    Group presentation (10%)

    • Required to pass the course
    • Grade 1-5
    • Content & presentation

    Participation/activity (10%)

    • Self and peer assessment (50%)
    • Timely mind map summary submissions (50%)