MLEST2300 Design, architecture and sustainability Course description

The course addresses issues relating to shapes and forms, materials and process work as set out in the current school curricula. Environmental issues and sustainability are linked to the course and investigated through topics such as consumer culture and knowledge of materials in a national and international context. Reuse and redesign as well as technological innovations are highlighted from a subject didactics and socio-ethical perspective. Practical, exploratory work on materials, design and form is emphasised. Teaching practice forms part of the course. The practice is intended to be an arena for systematic learning and takes place in collaboration with the training establishment. The course forms part of an international semester.

On completion of the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student:

• has knowledge of the properties of different materials, as well as techniques and tools used to process and produce shapes, functions and expressions
• has knowledge of material expressions and technological innovation in a historical and current perspective, both nationally and internationally
• has knowledge of consumer culture, materials, health and the environment in a subject didactics perspective

Knowledge from teaching practice

The student:

• has knowledge of curricula in the subject area and the interdisciplinary topics in primary and lower secondary education
• has knowledge of the role of teachers in culture dissemination

Skills

The student:

• can work on issues relating to shapes and forms and work with different materials and surfaces
• can use innovative, creative and step-by-step processes in work with design, redesign and reuse
• can assess the properties of different materials and reflect on consumption patterns and cultures in an international context
• can use relevant knowledge and research

Skills from teaching practice

The student:

• can plan, carry out and evaluate teaching activities aimed at a specific target group
• can use a wide range of work methods and teaching aids in their teaching activities and adapt them to different learning contexts

General competence

The student:

• can communicate about sustainability, based on knowledge of the distinctive nature of the subject
• can discuss teaching, learning and topics based on current issues in society, relevant research and professional ethical principles
• can evaluate and critically reflect on their own teaching skills and learning needs
• can meet the health, safety and environmental requirements that apply in their subject area

Practical experience from workshops and theoretical studies individually and in groups are emphasised in the course. The course theory emphasises an understanding and application of concepts and work methods. Health, Environment and Safety (HES) is related to practical experience in the workshop. Subject didactics forms part of the course and helps to contextualise the students’ practical work and theoretical studies, as well as raise key questions about the school’s mission and the distinctive nature of the subject.

The course must be seen in the context of the other courses. Developing an arena understanding of academic writing principles forms a key part of the programme as a whole. Not all aspects of the course are necessarily dealt with in the teaching activities, but must be covered by the students themselves by reading the course literature, participating in study groups and conducting practical, exploratory work.

Teaching practice forms part of the course and is carried out in alternative placement contexts. The teaching practice can be taken at an institution abroad subject to the department’s approval. Teaching practice includes planning and implementation of teaching, adapted to the needs of the placement context. The student is supervised and assessed both during and at the end of the period. Supervision and assessment is carried out by the department. The results are documented in the supervision and assessment booklet for practical training.

The required coursework must be completed and awarded a pass grade before the students can take the exam:

• Documentation of a piece of practical/theoretical work, presented and discussed in a plenary session
• Completed teaching practice, preferably in groups. Scope: 15 days
• An interdisciplinary assignment, Inter1200, in collaboration with students taking other programme options
• An oral presentation relating to teaching practice
• Minimum 80 per cent participation in compulsory teaching activities

The exam is a practical, creative project that is carried out in the practice groups, with a written project documentation. A written reflection note based on the project is carried out individually.

The exam consist of two parts:

1. Practical creative work and project documentation

A completed practical creative work and documentation of the project work. Scope of 2000-4000 words. The group work is assessed and makes up 40% of the final grade.

2. Written individual assignment

Reflection on own learning which includes subject theory and practical experience. About 1000 words. Individual assignments are assessed and make up 60% of the final grade.

See the teaching plans for more information about the exam. The creative work and the paper are assessed together. Students must achieve a grade E or better on both parts of the exam in order to pass. The exam result can be appealed.

Both partial exams must be passed to pass the course.

Absence - fail

Students who do not take the exam due to valid absence, or who are awarded a fail grade, can register for a resit/rescheduled exam. If a student is taking a resit/rescheduled exam, they can submit a reworked version of the same exam project, or a new exam paper.

All aids are permitted, provided the rules for source referencing are met.

Grade scale A-F.

One internal examiner and one co-examiner (assesses a selection of the exam assignments). External examiners are used regularly.