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Unit of study_

PLAN9049: Foundations of Informal Urbanism

Semester 1, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit is designed to fill a significant gap in the evolution of the urban and regional planning curriculum by focusing on the concept of informal urbanism in a developing and developed country context. This unit is designed for planners and urban designers who may wish to work in the field of international development and/or who have an interest in better understanding urbanisation, especially informal urbanism in the Asia and Pacific Region. The unit is run in both semesters, one as an overseas field trip and the other as an intensive in Sydney. The international field trip will be a collaboration with the highly esteemed Insititute of Technology Bandung (ITB), Indonesia, and is based around the theme of informal urbanism as expressed in a kampung (informal settlement). For the intensive in Sydney, students from ITB will participate in class activities. By the end of this unit of study you should have an understanding of the (i) key readings on the dimensions of informal urbanism, (ii) key policy themes of poverty, spatial justice, and environmental sustainability, (iii) tools to explore the nature of informal urbanism, including understanding patterns and types of urban form and structure and their adaptation and transformation at the local level, and (iv) cross-cultural considerations in planning and urban design. The unit reflects the increasing internationalisation of Australian planning practice in contributing to better managing urbanisation, especially within the Asia and Pacific Region. It caters to the needs of local and international students intending to work on urban and regional planning projects internationally and wishing to better understand how the city is made and shaped including understanding dimensions of urban complexity in the formal and informal city.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PLAN9049
Academic unit Urban and Regional Planning and Policy
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Paul Roger Jones, paul.r.jones@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Paul Roger Jones, paul.r.jones@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Typology of Self-Help Housing
Typology of Self-Help Housing in Lebak Siliwangi
30% Week 09
Due date: 02 May 2020 at 17:00
Total 15 PPs
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Analytical Inquiry on Informality and Informal Urbanism
Portfolio of text, graphic, interpretation skills answering 2 questions
70% Week 13
Due date: 30 May 2020 at 23:00
2000 word image/text Portfolio
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Two assignments. The first assignment is a group PP presentation submited as 15 PPs on May 2 (30%). Groups will be formed after the first session. The second assignment is an analytical inquiry (individual work) expressed in a Portfolio style report with a strong mix of text and images (70%). Two questions need to be addressed with futher detail to be provided in Canvas. Both assignments need to be submitted through Canvas and TurnItin. 

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.

Distinction

75 - 84

Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.

Credit

65 - 74

Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.

Pass

50 - 64

Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.

Fail

0 - 49

Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Please ensure you are aware of University policies on late submission. Contact the unit coordinator AP Paul Jones if you are having issues meeting the 2 submission deadlines.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 05 Outline of lecture material/topics and contextual material for Session 1 and Unit loaded on Canvas Online class (8 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Introduction to Unit and explanation of learning material, assessments, etc. On-line tutorials and use of Chat and Zoom on Canvas, use of Announcements and Skype to clarify learning material, assignments and process on queries on learning direct to teacher. Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Outline of lecture material for Session 2 loaded on Canvas Online class (8 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Tutorial: Assistance with Assessment 1 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 Assistance with Submission of Assessment 1 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 11 Assistance with assignment 2 Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

Submission of both assignments including working as group member in Group PP. Participation in Canvas Chat and Zoom sessions. 

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Key readings will be uploaded in Canvas. 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. understand the nature and complexities of the urbanisation process and its consequences/impacts as it applies to the context of kampungs (urban villages comprising the urban disadvantaged) in Bandung, and urbanisation generally in Indonesia, and how ‘planning’ has responded, not responded or understood their needs
  • LO2. analyse the scope, complexity, and foundational concepts of informal urbanism through key readings in the literature, applications of tools to evaluate expressions and manifestations of urban form, structure, function, incrementalism and self-organised housing in a specific kampung by being there in the field/'on the ground' in a multi-cultural environment
  • LO3. understand the key stakeholders involved, their motives and values, development aspirations, types of rules and regulations, and modes of local governance
  • LO4. apply and interrogate the meaning of 'whose development', urban transformation processes and the variety of urbanisation outcomes in your visions of urban planning/design through critical thinking and problem solving, use of analytical tools and strategic planning, communication (oral, written and graphic), information and innovation.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Lecture material will be shared with students at ITB Universty and vice versa. 

Additional costs

NA

Site visit guidelines

No site visit. All material on-line.

Work, health and safety

The unit will be on-line due to the potential impacts of the coronavirus on student health.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.