FINEARTS 320 Creative Practice Research Methodologies - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

What does it mean to consider creative practice as research? Examines the history and theory of contemporary art’s relationship to the academy, focused on the practical implications of framing art-making as a capstone project. Develops academic research skills culminating in a research proposal.

Course Overview

This core course is designed to enable students to understand their own research processes. This should in turn help them develop a method for their Capstone project in semester 2, eventually positioning themselves for postgraduate study. Skills in written and spoken presentations of their chosen research methodology are key, alongside developing a greater appreciation of where their research practice sits alongside other creative practices.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: FINEARTS 204, 207, 208, or FINEARTS 204, 207, 212, or FINEARTS 204, 208, 209, or FINEARTS 110-113, 90 points from FINEARTS 220-250

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Explore a range of research methodologies relevant to the production of contemporary arts (Capability 4.1 and 5.2)
Explore a range of research methodologies relevant to associated written and spoken discourses (Capability 2.2, 5.1 and 6.1)
Critically reflect on the motives, contexts and methods of one’s own creative practice and communicate these in written and verbal forms (Capability 1.2 and 2.2)
Develop skills related to framing ideas in a generative and open way (Capability 1.3, 4.1, 5.2 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Annotated bibliography on selected research methodologies	20%	Individual Coursework
Research seminar on relevant methodologies to own practices	30%	Individual Coursework
Group report on research seminars	20%	Group Coursework
Writing journal/portfolio	30%	Individual Coursework
4 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4
Annotated bibliography on selected research methodologies
Research seminar on relevant methodologies to own practices
Group report on research seminars
Writing journal/portfolio

A total grade of 50% or higher is required to pass this course.

All submissions must follow the assignment guidelines on Canvas.

Teaching & Learning Methods

Project-centred learning is used to support the development of students’ creative working practices. Based in kanohi ki te kanohi environments augmented with lectures and presentations, dialogue sits at the centre, creating opportunities to share diverse perspectives, knowledge and concepts. A broad range of methods is used, including individual and collaborative projects, small group feedback sessions, lectures, seminars and readings.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course for which you can expect 2 hours of lectures, presentations or seminar discussions each week, 24 hours of preparatory reading (2 hrs per week) and 102 hours of independent study and assignment preparation (8.5 hrs per week).

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities to complete components of the course. Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars will not be available as recordings. The course may include live online events including group discussions/tutorials (contingent on Covid-determined campus experience restrictions). Attendance on campus is required for studio presentations (contingent on Covid-determined campus experience restrictions). The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Students must have personal access to Word (or Adobe Acrobat for pdf creation) as all assignments must be submitted via Turnitin via Canvas. Assignments in other applications not specified, such as Pages or ODT, will not be accepted.

Health & Safety

Please refer to the Elam School of Fine Arts Health, Safety and Wellbeing guidelines that can be found in the Canvas page for this course in the files section.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Other Information

This course includes a group assignment and may require out-of-class contact in person and email between students in the course. Students are therefore expected to follow University and Elam guidelines on respectful and inclusive behaviour with each other, in person and by email, zoom or other communication methods.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Coursework must be submitted by the published deadline or it will receive the grade DNC (Did Not Complete). In some circumstances the student can apply for a Formal Extension of Time using the form on Canvas. The request must be supported by written evidence from a doctor or counsellor (or other relevant evidence) to support the extension request.

Requests for extensions of time must be submitted and approved before the due date of the assignment.

No extensions will be granted for problems such as clashing deadlines or accidentally erased computer files which should always be prevented by keeping backup copies.

In the event of unexpected disruption

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement
Capability 5:	Independence and Integrity
Capability 6:	Social and Environmental Responsibilities

FINEARTS 320 : Creative Practice Research Methodologies

Creative Arts and Industries

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)