This unit explores developments in art, science and technology, drawing on important periods in Italian history and culture as a background for understanding contemporary interdisciplinary practice. It will examine the nature and development of technology in science, engineering, the arts and architecture. Using the city of Prato and the museums, galleries, rural landscapes and built environments in the surrounding region, students will research, develop and present a team-based interdisciplinary project that draws on this rich historical, cultural and technological landscape.
Minimum total expected workload equals 48 hours per week over a 3 week period comprising:
See also Unit timetable information
Students must have at least 18 credit points of 1st year units from any degree by the commencement of the program in the student's proposed year of participation AND be enrolled full-time at Monash.
Prato: Alan Dorin
Prato: Jon McCormack
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For more information on Monash’s educational strategy, see:
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| Week | Activities | Assessment |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ||
| 1 | Centre orientation, unit overview, introduction to art, science and technology. Prato old city orientation, textile museum visit. History of architecture. Time measurement technology and representation, Florence visit. History of art, Prato art museum visit. | Assessment tasks: 1, 4, 5, 7 |
| 2 | City of Lucca visit. Study and presentation day. Progress in philosophy, science and technology: Artificial Life, Florence visit (x2). Systematics and classification. Study and presentation day. | Assessment tasks: 2, 3, 6, 8 |
| 3 | Project implementation and research. Project presentation day. | Final project and presentation. |
| 4 | ||
| 5 | ||
| 6 | ||
| 7 | ||
| 8 | ||
| 9 | ||
| 10 | ||
| 11 | ||
| 12 | ||
| Examination period | LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html |
*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.
In-semester assessment: 100%
| Assessment Task | Value | Due Date |
|---|---|---|
| PRATO ORIENTATION WALKING TOUR | 0% | Week 1 |
| DIGITAL HERITAGE | 0% | Week 2 |
| SYSTEMATICS AND CLASSIFICATION | 10% | Week 2 |
| MEASUREMENT and TIME TECHNOLOGY | 15% | Week 1 |
| THE DEVELOPMENT OF ART | 10% | Week 1 |
| THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE | 10% | Week 2 |
| HOW TECHNOLOGY SHAPES SOCIETY | 5% | Week 1 |
| THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY | 0% | Week 2 |
| Final project and presentation. | 50% | Week 3 |
Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/assessment-hurdles.html)
Academic Integrity - Please see resources and tutorials at http://www.monash.edu/library/skills/resources/tutorials/academic-integrity/
Participation requirements:
Performance will be judged based on:
Students will be assessed based on the utility of the classification system they devise, their resourcefulness in seeking and identifying things to classify, and the skill with which they present their findings.
Students participating in this group work will be assessed together, each receiving the same result for this assessment task.
Students will be assessed based on their demonstrated ability to put into practice ancient techniques of measurement, and in their resourcefulness and observational skills at cataloguing and organising a record of historical time-keeping devices.
Students participating in this group work will be assessed together, each receiving the same result for this assessment task.
Students will be assessed based on the level of understanding they show of developments in painting and the innovation they exhibit in explaining them or bringing them to light in a short report.
Students wil be assessed based on the innovation and ingenuity they demonstrate in seeking out, recording and presenting the architecture of Prato. They will be assessed also on the thoroughness and diligence paid to research of architectural styles and their construction or representation in the built environment of Prato.
Students participating in group work will be assessed as individuals and will be required to submit descriptions and self-assessments of their own contributions. Additionally, each student will be asked to provide feedback on the participation of others in their group which, along with information obtained by the staff during observation of group activities, will contribute to their grade for an activity.
Students will be assessed individually based on the level at which they identify and analyse the impact the textile industry has had on life in Prato (and vice versa) through their engagement with the resources and displays at the textile museum.
Students will be assessed based on their understanding of the underlying problem and its historical, cultural and technological landscape. They will be assessed also based on the success of their method in addressing the problem using multidisciplinary approaches and the innovation shown in responding to the problem using contemporary insight, knowledge and skills.
Students participating in group work will be assessed as individuals and will be required to submit descriptions and self-assessments of their own contributions. Additionally, each student will be asked to provide feedback on the participation of others in their group which, along with information obtained by the staff during observation of group activities, will contribute to their grade for an activity.
Monash Library Unit Reading List (if applicable to the unit)
http://readinglists.lib.monash.edu/index.html
Types of feedback you can expect to receive in this unit are:
Submission must be made by the due date otherwise penalties will be enforced.
You must negotiate any extensions formally with your campus unit leader via the in-semester special consideration process: http://www.monash.edu.au/exams/special-consideration.html
Students may not resubmit assignments.
It is a University requirement (http://www.policy.monash.edu/policy-bank/academic/education/conduct/student-academic-integrity-managing-plagiarism-collusion-procedures.html) for students to submit an assignment coversheet for each assessment item. Faculty Assignment coversheets can be found at http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/student/forms/. Please check with your Lecturer on the submission method for your assignment coversheet (e.g. attach a file to the online assignment submission, hand-in a hard copy, or use an electronic submission). Please note that it is your responsibility to retain copies of your assessments.
Students should regularly check the unit Moodle page for announcements.
In addition to everything needed for travel and a 3-week stay in Italy, students should bring:
In addition to visiting sites around the town of Prato, the unit may visit the following sites (depending on availability and individual student project requirements):
Towns including:
Study sites including:
Sample student budget:
$2500 Airfare (less if booked early)
$1050 Food $50 x 21 days (less if self-catered)
$100 Local travel to/from Rome
$1500 Accommodation (less if shared)
$1600 Prato facility, local study travel, site entry fees
6 credit point unit attracts standard tertiary fee
Some scholarships, travel insurance and travel bursaries may be available subject to conditions.
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Important student resources including Faculty policies are located at http://intranet.monash.edu.au/infotech/resources/students/
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