FA1AP1: Art Practice 1

Module code: FA1AP1

Module provider: Art; School of Arts and Communication Design

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you'll be taught: Semester 2

Module convenor: Miss Wendy McLean, email: w.a.mclean@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 18 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

There are many different areas of production and traditions of art practices forming the global histories of art. This module offers the opportunity to engage in-depth through focused learning within a chosen specialism from a variety of options which might include painting, printmaking, sculpture or video. 

You will gain knowledge of their specific histories and test and debate their contemporary relevance. 

Through guided demonstrations and self-led experimentation, you will develop practical skills, material understanding and competence in current debates around ethics and sustainability of materials, risk assessment and safety, including aspects of responsible working codes. 

This module is excellent training to master real-world practices in creative industries. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to: 

1. Acquire skilfuland imaginative competence in art techniques, materials and ideas.    
2. Experiment within art practices and areas of production, mindful of safety and sustainability.  
3. Describe the relationship between understanding and practice within the global histories of a chosen specialism through research, visual analysis and critical reflection. 

Module content

Students will be able to choose from different specialism to deepen and expand their practical knowledge and skills which might typically include 2D (printmaking, painting), 3D (sculpture, installation) or 4D (video, sound, digital practices). 

Access to onsite specialist facilities and art-studios form the basis for investigation, which are further complimented through online research and field trips to museums and galleries. 

Materials will be provided for experimentation and guided exploration of potential and limits of fabrication. Accidents and mistakes are encouraged to promote innovation and create an enabling, inclusive learning environment. 

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

Learning will take place in specialist workshop facilities and studios. 

Lectures and practical demonstrations introduce medium-specific techniques, materials and processes, as well as their histories and contemporary relevance. 

Guidance will be provided in inductions to facilities and Health & Safety training. 

Guided studio-based learning in the form of material and technical research and development of a body of creative work assists acquisition of skills and competency within a chosen medium. One-to-one and group feedback supports increasingly independent experimentation and innovation. Ongoing visual analysis of models and examples of artistic practice, as well as students’ own application, further develops awareness of expertise and competency. 

Students have access to blended learning through a mix of self-scheduled online content and in-person activities. 

Collaborative working is encouraged through the shared use of studio space, group feedback sessions and peer-critiques. Alongside collaborative working individual students can with support from staff opt out of group working sessions and instead follow a path tailored to their particular learning needs. 

Assessment points and volume are evenly distributed and introduced at the beginning of the module. 

Formative assessment is through studio presentations, peer-review and feedback. 

Summative assessments are authentic through diverse methods including accumulative research journal and portfolio of practice. 

Study hours

At least 43 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Ongoing presentation of project development with 1–2-1 or peer feedback. 

Reassessment

Additional costs