theory+context pt1 proj brief 11-12

Level One, All BA courses

Project TitleTheory and Context, Part 1 and Part 2

Credit Value and Weighting

100% of 15 Credits

Unit Title Theory and Context Unit Code

C101/ ANI11101, BOP11101, BTC11101, CDP11101, D11101, DFP11101, DGP11101, EPP11101, FAS11101, GRA11101, IDA11101, MGR11101, MPM11101, SND11101, WEB11101

Level/Term Level 2; Terms 1 and 2 Date of Issue Wed 19 Oct 2011

Submission Date

Part 1, Formative Assessment: Quiz + Peer Assessment, Wed 16 Nov 11 in class

Part 2, Summative Assessment: Researched Text (1000-1500 words)Wed 7 Mar 12, before 11.00pm – to be uploaded as one PDF file on moodle. Only PDF files will be accepted. Students must refer to their course timetable (via Moodle) for all learning and teaching activities.

Unit Leader Liz McQuiston

Project Leader and Other Staff

Paul Glavey (PL), Adriana Eysler, Jeremy Barr

Project Brief This unit provides an introduction to the critical theories and historical analyses of design and communication media in the 20th and 21st centuries.

It shows how design and communication media influence, or are influenced by, the thinking and events of a particular time and place, located within a wider context of historical change and evolution. It explores issues of social, cultural and historical context, and local and global perspectives. It examines the role of ethics in the day-to-day understanding and practice of creative disciplines.

As a part of this investigation, students’ will learn to ask questions – in order to form opinions or challenge their own preconceptions. They will learn to research, and will begin to communicate their ideas through writing and group discussion.This project is progressed in two parts, over two terms.

Theory and Context, Part One (Term 1)Part One, weeks 4 – 8, is delivered to large clusters of courses. Students must attend and participate in a series of lectures, and other interactive activities, focusing on some key critical theories, issues and significant movements relating to design and communication media in a global context. All are discussed within a historical framework.Formative AssessmentA Quiz on the content and meaning of weeks 4 – 8, and reflection on how it relates to you and your course. With Peer Assessment.

BA Contextual Studies Sept 2011

PROJECT BRIEF


Theory and Context, Part Two Part Two, weeks 1 – 8, involves a series of lectures/seminars dealing with historical perspectives in greater depth, and encompassing course specialisms. It is delivered to clusters of related courses, with the intention of underlining specific shared elements and breaking through boundaries.

Week 9 involves:Summative Assessment Submission of an individual researched text (1000-1500 words) showing analysis/critique of a design, artefact or media text (or a group of designs, artefacts or media texts) within a theoretical and historical context, with referencing and a bibliography evidencing a variety of sources.

All research sources (books, films etc) used in the writing of the text must be credited within the text where appropriate using Harvard referencing system, and again in the bibliography using the appropriate style.

Learning Outcomes

In order to pass this Level 1 Unit, students must demonstrate the following learning outcomes have been achieved:

Knowledge and Understanding(A) Demonstrate a comprehension of design and communication media as constructs in a global context of cultural and historical developments;

Values and Attitudes(B) Demonstrate basic application of ethical issues in their interpretations and analyse the meanings and values of design and communication media;

Skills (Cognitive and Intellectual)(C) Show their application of the skills of observation, description and analysis of artefacts in a wider context of theory and history of design and communication media;

Skills (Subject Specific/Professional)(D) Apply basic research skills and present their findings to a recognisable academic standard (with referencing);

Skills (Transferable)(E) Effectively employ information technologies in support of research and for delivery of a written text to a deadline.

Assessment Criteria Students will be assessed on:

Ability to relate design and communication media to a theoretical and/or historical context; (A, C)

Application of contextual and analytical learning to current design/communication media practice. (A, C)

Application of ethical issues to the analysis of design and communication media (and its effect on meanings and values); (B)



Observation and analysis of design and communication media artefacts, processes and practice; (C)

The use of information technologies to support research and written delivery to a deadline. (E)

Ability to carry out meaningful research, as well as presenting it to a recognisable academic standard, including the referencing of sources. (D)

Assessable Elements and Submission

Requirements

Assessable Elements Percentage of Final GradeResearched text (1000-1500 words)

100%

Theory and Context Part One – Formative AssessmentA Quiz on the content and meaning of the Term One lecture series, and reflection on how it relates to you and your course. With Peer Assessment.

Theory and Context Part Two – Summative Assessmento an individual researched text (1000-1500 words) showing

analysis/critique of a design, artefact or media text (or group of designs, artefacts or media texts) within a historical and theoretical context,

o it must have a bibliography evidencing a variety of sources, o all research sources (books, films etc) used in the writing of the text

must be credited within the text where appropriate using Harvard referencing system and again in the bibliography using the appropriate style

o it must be uploaded as one PDF file on moodle (see the ‘Theory and Context’ moodle page). Only PDF files will be accepted.

Summative Assessment Deadline: Wed 7 Mar 12, before 11.00pm

Students will receive written feedback and a grade.

Reading List See learning material and booklists on moodle.

Re-Submission Requirements

Students who fail this project, or parts thereof, will be required to complete a resubmission project which demonstrates that they have achieved the learning outcomes.

Students should be aware that resubmissions are capped at a bare pass grade (40%) unless the mitigating circumstances panel uphold an evidenced application.

The deadline for re-submission is Tues 10 Apr, before 11.00pm (to be uploaded as one PDF file on moodle – only PDF files will be accepted).



Student Support and

Guidance

Extensions and Mitigating CircumstancesIf you have any other unforeseen and serious difficulties during this unit you may apply for an extension, or mitigating circumstances. Full details of how to do this are available from the Registry intranet site at http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/registry/docs/MITCIRCSFAQ.pdf

Grading and MarkingAll projects at Ravensbourne are assessed against the Institution’s Grading Descriptors (http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/quality/a_to_z.htm).

Learning Support Learning Support is available through Student Services and includes – English as a second language, academic writing support and dyslexia support.

For more information on the type of support you can access, either visit the Student Services team via the Information Centre, or refer to the Student Services information on the Intranet: http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/support/

Alternative assessment arrangements may be made or additional learning support arranged for students with disabilities or medical conditions which would impair their performance in meeting the above requirements and who have registered in advance with Student Services. This must be discussed and agreed in advance with the Subject Leader and will be reported to the Board of Examiners.

ReferencingAll reading list references must be written in the Harvard style of referencing.

Academic misconduct Academic misconduct includes cheating, collusion, plagiarism, or any other attempt to gain unfair advantage. Ravensbourne treats academic misconduct extremely seriously and the penalty for candidates found guilty of misconduct or deception may result in permanent exclusion.

Communication, Timetabling and Course InformationFor project updates you are required to regularly check your emails, your Celcat timetable and unit specific content in Moodle. You should also continue to refer back to your Course Handbook, which contains information on your course structure and will put this project brief in context: (http://intranet.rave.ac.uk/quality/CourseHandbooks.htm).



TIMETABLE Theory and Context, Part One 11-12

Project Tutors: Paul Glavey, Adriana Eysler, Jeremy Barr

Timeslots for courses (all located in the Walker Space):10.00 – 12.00 ARC, DGP, DIN, DPR, FAS, GRA, IDA, SND1.00 – 3.00 ANI, BAT, BET, BIT, BOT, CDP, MGR, MPM, WEB3.30 – 5.30 BOP, DFP, EPP

Theme: Contextualising your subject throughout a century of personal and professional change. This lecture series will enable students to construct a timeline of developments (movements, wars, people, technologies) that have impacted, and continue to impact, on their subject area of practice.

Week Day/time Lectures, tutorials and assessment points

4 Wed 19 Oct 11(see timeslots above)

Lecture 1:The meaning and value of Contextual Studies as related to your practice-based subject area;Influences that affect thinking and making.

Spotlight: Introduction to the brief; Formulating Questions

5 Wed 26 Oct Lecture 2:Key triggers of change leading to the 20th centuryMapping timeSpotlight: How to read a media text (film and sound);

6 Wed 2 Nov Lecture 3:The Shock of the New (early 1900s)Mapping TimeSpotlight: Harvard Referencing System (how to do it!) Be warned – you don’t want to learn this on your own!

7 Wed 9 Nov Lecture 4:A journey into hell (1910s, the world at war);Mapping TimeSpotlight: Exploring books, films, websites and other media

8 Wed 16 Nov Lecture 5:The explosion of creativity (1920s, anti-art, anti-war, anti-the past)Spotlight: Exciting Mystery Extravaganza! Unmissable!

See you next term for Theory and Context Part Two, starting Wed 11 Jan 2012


theory+context pt1 proj brief 11-12

Documents