Module Catalogue 2024/25

Pre Requisite Comment

N/A

Co Requisite Comment

N/A

Aims

The aims of the module are to prepare international students to study and research methods as well as modes for communication and presentation for postgraduate studies in architecture, planning and landscape design.

The focus is on:
•       Introduction to academic standards and culture for postgraduate studies
•       Study management
•       Effective data collection, evaluation and analysis
•       Research methods for postgraduate studies
•       Advanced communication and presentation techniques
•       Advanced manual communication techniques

The module is joined up with all other INTO Architecture modules. It concentrates upon the research skills used in the essential processes in communications and design and in addition usually draws upon the use of computers for their effectiveness in communications at various stages in a student’s professional development.

Outline Of Syllabus

•       Study and Research Skills, research methods and combined research, logical argumentation and formulating a design thesis, individual and team work, design project management, effective information processing, evaluation and analysis, referencing.
•       Advanced Communication Skills, written reports, case studies and essays, graphical and visual communication techniques, oral presentation techniques
•       Application of MS Office Software, including MS PowerPoint.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

Students will be able to:
•       Effectively manage and structure their studies and project assignments.
•       Apply appropriate and relevant research methods for architecture.
•       Develop strategies for enquiry.
•       Process and present research outcomes.
•       Develop logical arguments and to formulate a design thesis.
•       Apply appropriate citation and referencing techniques.
•       Identify and choose appropriate modes of information and communication.

Intended Skill Outcomes

Students will be able to:
•       Efficiently source and evaluate relevant data.
•       Critically analyse and interpret date and information.
•       Produce structured and appropriate presentations of research outcomes to an advanced standard.
•       Efficiently document observations and investigations.
•       Communicate information.
•       Choose and apply appropriate computing techniques.
•       Develop graphical materials and project presentations to an advanced standard.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures are used to introduce material to students and explain theories and concepts. Small group teaching is used to develop study skills through discussion, making presentations etc. Project tutorials in semester 2 are used to provide advice and guidance on the individual project.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The summative assessment components comprise of two pieces of work which demonstrate that the student has developed:
•       Transferable communication skills (verbal and graphical) necessary to effectively present his/her written research outcomes.
•       Sustainable editing skills demonstrating the ability to present an essay with appropriate formatting of the text, including pertinent images, correct referencing and appropriate bibliographic sources
•       Confidence in using academic databases and library systems to locate appropriate sources; critical evaluation and synthesis of source materials.

The assessment stages guide students, through logical, incremental steps of the research process, towards ultimately producing a 4,000-word argumentative essay in response to a (chosen) set essay question. In doing so, students learn and employ library and information skills, report writing, group work, use of MS Word and Excel, academic reading, essay writing, referencing, organisational skills. In addition, the skills developed here will be deployed in other modules. To support students in the two summative assessment submissions, in semester one, there will be two formative submissions as students develop 'Essay 1', and in semester two, there will be one formative submission as they develop 'Essay 2'.

General Notes

N/A