VA5006 - Theory into Practice

You will learn through a range of teaching approaches that are either individual or peer focussed. The studio is the primary location for your work and learning and acts as a place for connecting processes of thinking, making and creative speculation. You will learn through individual tutorials, group critiques, a seminar programme, a lecture programme, independent study, technical workshops, and your own independent initiatives.

Tutorials are forty minutes and are individually focussed around your work; these are delivered by your studio tutor. Tutors have subject specialist knowledge in areas including painting, photography, sculpture, print, moving image, social practice, installation and sound. Your studio tutor will work with you across the semester providing a continuity of dialogue to support your studies. You will also have the opportunity to receive a tutorial with an academic staff member other than your studio tutor through an allocated tutorial system.

Peer learning happens through group critiques. With four to eight of your peers you will collectively present work in progress for open discussion for three to four hours. Group critiques link you to peer interests and encourage you to consider and explore the intellectual, technical and creative research mechanisms underlying your approaches to production and alert you to audience and spectatorship. Further peer learning happens through the seminar programme, where you learn to develop - in a small group of ten to fifteen - advanced subject knowledge.

Independent use of the studio for the testing and production of artworks is a crucial part of your learning. Central to all your learning is how you process and reflect on your production and experiences through teaching. This happens through on-going formative feedback provided to you verbally during individual tutorials, group critiques and seminars.

You will have the opportunity to present a thematic group exhibition with your peer group, which is linked to the seminar programme. This will include exploring aspects of public exhibition making including exhibition statements, press releases and exhibition leaflets.

You are supported with the provision of a studio space, and access to specialist technical facilities, materials and resource areas.. Technical facilities include the wood, construction and casting workshops, the print studio (including screen-printing, etching, lithography), the mac lab and digital print (including industry standard digital imaging, moving image and audio software), analogue darkrooms (black and white and colour processing and print) and digital photographic studios. You have access to specialist materials in all workshop areas. Resource areas include our technical resource centre, University Gallery and, project spaces. You have twenty-four-hour access to the University Library.

Your learning will be supported by subject specialist academics and by expert technicians. Academic support is provided by four individual tutorials, two group critiques, seminar and lecture programme, and weekly technical workshops that you elect into. Your learning is clearly mapped out to you on the module page on BLACKBOARD (the University online Learning portal). This includes your assessment brief, guidance notes and key dates for the semester to help you organise and plan your time. Other teaching materials, notices and guidance are made available to you through BLACKBOARD. This is accessible to you on campus or externally through the Internet. You will have a University email that we contact you through. All timetabling is through the online University Timetabling system. REPS represent you in weekly meetings with the Programme Leader..

To support you we provide you with on-going formative feedback through the teaching you receive. In addition, a Self-evaluation Review is conducted mid-way through the semester which will give you the opportunity to reflect on your own learning experience and receive written feedback from your Studio Tutor.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

LEVEL 5

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. To produce a range of artworks that independently identifies your own position in relation to wider contemporary fine art practices.

2. Conduct research that critically assesses specific theories and lines of enquiry in relation to your studio practice.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

3. Evidence a critical understanding of appropriate technical and conceptual strategies for the production and presentation of works.


4.Present a critical précis and reading list that is correctly referenced and reflects an understanding of applied research and methods of practice in line with personal themes.

Independently manage their studio and creative research time to participate in the development of a self-established critical practice.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

5.

You will receive on-going verbal feedback (formative review) from academics through individual tutorials, group tutorials and seminars. This enables you to respond immediately and clarify with academics any points you are unsure of.

In addition a Self-evaluation Review is conducted mid-way through the semester which will give you the opportunity to reflect on your own learning experience and receive written feedback from your Studio Tutor on your progress to date



Summative Assessment
(MLO’s 1-6)

The Summative Assessment provides you with a year mark for your work and carries a 100% weighting. You will mount a presentation or exhibition of works evidencing that you have evolved your practical and intellectual skills through self-motivated practice, technical development, creative research, and in response to feedback from your Self-evaluation Review. Alongside your practical works and presentation you will submit all sketchbooks and notebooks, a creative written statement, and a file of personal creative research which includes material covered in the weekly seminars, self-initiated creative research, research from gallery visits, a personal reading list with a critical précis.

Following review and internal moderation from the academic team you receive verbal feedback. This provides you with a detailed evaluation of your work through the semester that is aimed at preparing you for study at Level 6. It provides you with the opportunity to reflect objectively on how decisions made through development, production and presentation are working and contributing to your practice. Alongside your Self-Evaluation Review, the feedback provides you with a comprehensive view of your development across of the semester. The Level 5 External Examiner reviews samples from the submission, and you have the opportunity to meet them in person to discuss your experiences of the module.

Summative Assessment Feedback
You will receive verbal feedback from your studio tutor in your studio, alongside your presentation, within seven days of the submission deadline. Feedback is individual and provided in the context of the assessment criteria given to you at the start of the academic year in the module guide. Written feedback is provided on BLACKBOARD within 20 days of the submission deadline.

VA5004

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