Critical Reflection of Specialism

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• reflect on, research and develop ideas in context;
• find links between your contextual sources;
• identify a range of working methods relevant to your discipline.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• how different facets of your work inter-connect: the relationship between context, concepts, materials and techniques.
• a critical, cultural context for the positioning of your work within contemporary practices;
• key theoretical and contextual themes relevant to your ideas;

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• demonstrate organisational skills and time-management;
• demonstrate academic integrity appropriate for this level of study.
• identify, select and draw upon a wide range of visual, printed and electronic sources;

Indicative content for this module normally includes:

• This module will allow you to demonstrate your awareness and considerations of the context in which you are researching, and how this context informs and challenges your studio practice. Making notes from critical readings, contextual references will document the clear development of your research.
• Reflect on your practice and identify ideas that will inform a more critical approach to your work. A self-reflective, critical approach to research is essential for the success of this module.
• Analyse feedback: A series of weekly tasks will afford you the opportunity to analyse verbal and written feedback given in weekly tutorial sessions.
• Action on feedback: Your tutor will recommend further reading and discuss writing skills which will be followed up in 1:1 tutorial sessions.
• Understanding the effectiveness of critical reflection for future projects and the next stage of the programme.

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include:

• lectures;
• seminars;
• tutorials;
• online tutorials via Lynda.com;
• introduction to the module (In Semester 1 for those taking the Student Exchange Module);
• face-to-face and/or online electronic support if you are studying the Student Exchange module;

Learning activities include:

• reflective blog posts;
• self-reflection (i.e., what have I experienced?);
• independent analysis (i.e., what have I learnt from looking at the work of other artists’ artefacts etc.);
• Study Skills Hub.

Resources & Reading list

Internet Resources

Blackboard.

Panopto via Blackboard.

Textbooks

Lessig, L. (2004). Free Culture. Penguin.

Tapscott, D. and Williams, A. D. (2008). Wikinomics. Penguin.

Rushkoff, D. (2009). Program or be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age. Berkeley: Soft Skull Press.

Stallman. Boston (2009). MA: GNU Press. Free Software Foundation.

Shirky, C. (2009). Here Comes Everybody. Pneguin UK.

Poynor, R. (2007). Obey the Giant: Life in Image World. Berlin: Birkhäuser GmbH.

Mason, M. (2009). The Pirate’s Dilemma. Simon and Schuster.

Formative

This is how we’ll give you feedback as you are learning. It is not a formal test or exam.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.