| 
Structure of the learning package |
Structure of the units
Structure of the learning package
Making Better Places comprises five units:
Who makes the town: Powergram
addresses the question: ‘How do things get built?’
Students consider the factors and people that influence
the development of towns and cities, and how complex issues
are negotiated between different interest groups such as
suppliers, producers, mediators and users.
Student learning and output:
- informs students about the design process
- develops understanding of how different power groups
affect urban development
- develops negotiating and problem-solving skills.
What makes a good place?
introduces and explores five urban design qualities: permeability;
variety/diversity; legibility; robustness, and vitality.
Students apply these qualities to make informed decisions
about the development of a selected site, and use 3-dimensional
modelling tools to visualise their ideas.
Student learning and output:
- introduces design principles that apply to making urban
places
- increases awareness of urban design
- develops negotiating skills and teamworking abilities.
Walkabout: Learning from the built
environment encourages students to explore either
their local environment or a case study of the Westgate
Shopping Centre in Oxford to observe the urban design qualities
they have learned about in the previous sessions.
Student learning and output:
- develops fieldwork techniques
- encourages the use of observation, information gathering
and analytical skills as students collect background information
and plan a presentation or report.
How to make a better place
applies design principles based on the five urban design
qualities. Students relate these to the site they have visited
and outline development solutions.
Student learning and output:
- reinforces understanding of urban design principles
in relation to a real site
- develops analytical and presentation skills.
Making a better place is
the final unit. Students express their urban design ideas
and create solutions for stated problems by manipulating
building blocks on a chosen site.
Student learning and output:
- encourages application of theory to provide practical
design solutions
- develops presentation skills, including the use of 2D
and 3D modelling techniques.
back to the top
Structure of the units
Each unit contains:
- a brief description of the learning outcomes, aims and
objectives that provides a theoretical and practical output
for each learning experience
- a time frame that gives an indication of the amount
of time needed to execute each exercise or activity
- suggestions for organising the class for the activities
and lessons
- lesson notes that describe what the materials cover
and how to use them
- downloads such as activity sheets, handbooks, graphs,
photos and video clips (all the downloads are also available
from the 'download' section of the website)
- suggestions for organising the classroom depending on
the types of activity.
back to the top
|
