Course Objectives

General skills

Students will be able to:

• Plan and carry out an independent project from idea to exhibition.
• View creative activities in the context of research.
• Reflect on the processes, materials, technology and techniques used in a project.

Knowledge

Students will gain knowledge of:

• Ethical guidelines when doing research
• Materials, technologies and techniques used in a project.
• How to process data in basic surveys.
• Copyright laws

Skills

The student will be able to:

• Limit the field of research, design research questions and hypotheses.
• Choose appropriate materials, technology and tools for a project.
• Use the relevant literature, databases, informants and other sources.
• Relate science theory to a project.
• Visualize and document the process through illustrations and diagrams.
• Present and evaluate the process, procedures and results in an appropriate manner.
• Critically assess the quality of his/her production.

Course Description

Independent Project 2 is a course in which the student should aim at professional development or examine a practical and creative approach in a selected area of study. He/she will conclude the course with an exhibition and a written report. The project may be related to the course Student Enterprise. Students can choose either a professional artistic or design topic which they can examine more closely on the basis of previous work they have done in VKD1 and the courses Product Design, Art Lab, and Graphic Design. Artistic projects may contain one or more forms of expression within the areas drawing, images, digital media, sculpture and installation. Design projects may focus on graphic design or product design. Theoretical topics should be related to the chosen area of study, and the student will demonstrate his/her degree of reflection in relation to his/her production and understanding of subject-theory in written and visual form. The course includes basic theory of science, and qualitative and quantitative methodology in which the student should be able to explain the fundamental problems in science and research methodology.

Learning Methods

The various courses in the study programme have their own target areas and specific content and subject matter related to these. However, the target areas of one course may illuminate the target areas of another. Key topics may be discussed several times using different approaches, and the structure of the studies does not hinder an examination of topics that cross several areas.

Teaching will mainly take place in the classroom and in joint seminars with students from the college’s faculties in Bo and Porsgrunn. Teaching and learning methods are varied and include lectures, demonstrations, courses / seminars, field trips, workshop work, group work, problem solving and guidance and assessment.

It is a requirement for the final project the student has received guidance, and it is the student's responsibility to contact the teacher to agree on a guidance plan. The student will prepare a reading list for the project of about 100 pages, which should be referenced in the report.

Key areas of the course, including all the teaching and guidance, are mandatory and attendance will be registered. Attendance and participation, and responsibility for an active and creative learning environment, are important factors to ensure student outcomes for the course. There is a requirement of at least 80% attendance for all teaching and guidance.

Assessment Methods

A final grade will be given on a scale from A to F, where A is the highest and E the lowest passing grade.

Please refer to Telemark University College Examination Regulations for more information.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean