MODULE SPECIFICATION
Code: UADAGK-40-2 Title: Exploring and Developing Practice in Animation Version: 1
Level: 2 UWE credit rating: 40 ECTS credit rating: 20
Module type: Project
Owning Faculty: FCA Field: Design
Faculty Committee approval: SQC Date: 07/10/09 (Approved Chairs action Nov 2009)
Approved for Delivery by: indicate name of affiliated institution if module will only be delivered by them
Valid from: Sept 2009 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: BA(Hons) Animation
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: None
Entry requirements: If the module is offered as CPD or stand alone, indicate the entry requirements
Excluded combinations:
Learning outcomes:
To enable students to:
Knowledge and Understanding
i extend their comprehension of their individual practice and subject through practical and creative work;
ii relate their practice to the broader context of contemporary practice and historical precedents;
Intellectual Skills
iii recognise the relevance and implications of how their work relates to intention, context and audience;
iv identify and analyse relevant sources of information to inform their work;
v evaluate, discuss and critically reflect their own and others work;
Subject Skills
vi demonstrate the development and implementation of practical skills appropriate to their subject and the intention of their work;
vii implement a methodology for the development and exploration of a sustained body of work;
viii organise and present work in an appropriate manner;
Transferable Skills
ix identify key elements of a problem and select methods and process appropriate to the task;
x communicate effectively, visually, verbally and in writing
Syllabus outline:
This module provides a challenging opportunity for students to develop and explore their individual creative practice in relation to specific areas within animation production. This module aims to stimulate and extend the experimental development of student work in areas of this broad subject. Students are encouraged to build on the knowledge and experience gained from earlier modules, and extend their ability to apply practical and intellectual process to the resolution of creative solutions and technical dexterity within their chosen animation process.
Staff initiated activities and projects early in the module will introduce a range of issues and debates, skills, processes and approaches relevant to the subject area. These will form the basis for initial student exploration, and subsequent development into individually negotiated work. There is opportunity to select one of four specialist paths to follow; CGI (Maya), Flash/AFX (Digital 2D), Stop Frame and model making, writing and preproduction (drawing and pre-visualisation). Work is negotiated in consultation with staff appropriate to the specialism. Regular peer presentations of progress and work continue throughout the negotiated period.
Opportunities for collaborative work, where appropriate, discussion of work and working process, are encouraged, and enable students to interact with fellow students from within their own subject and beyond. All students are required to develop critically rigorous contextual research in relation to the intention of their work and their understanding of their role as creative practitioner.
Teaching and learning methods:
Lectures and seminars will introduce key themes and practices, related to the diverse activity and processes within contemporary animation production. Initial practical project work and exercises, instigated by staff, will form the basis for negotiation of individual direction, and the development of sustained bodies of work within the four identified areas of practice mentioned above. Tutorials will be the focus for staff to support students’ work and maintain a plan of work that combines research in their area of practice and development of their practical work. So it is essential that good records and journals are kept to document the individual progress.
Lectures and seminars presented by staff and guest speakers, directed reading, practical exercises, technical tutorial and theory, challenge students to consider the strengths and potential of different working methods and media. By looking at their own work and that of other practitioners they will be challenged to consider how content and intention inform the development and evaluation of outcomes. Time is a key issue in animation, this includes time spent designing/making as well as on screen time. Students will be asked to consider time spent working economically and efficiently on all four sub-divisions.
Practical work, seminar discussions, critiques of work in progress and outcomes will examine models of design method/process considering issues such as generating ideas, integrating communicative objectives with aesthetic judgement, collaboration and co-ordination.
Practical workshops will enable students to extend their technical knowledge and skills in the areas most relevant to their individual practice.
Reading Strategy
Essential Reading is indicated to supplement student understanding of the subjects covered throughout the module. Further Reading guides students through more specific aspects of research. Students will be directed to these under the guidance of staff. In addition to suggested reading, students will be directed to other sources such as web sites and other on-line resources.
The titles on the essential reading list are available in the Bower Ashton Library and should be regarded as key texts. Suggested further reading, Listed below are also held in the Bower Ashton Library.
Under the university’s Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA) permit, reading packs with relevant chapters or excerpts from books will be given to students where applicable, supplied at the beginning of the module. Text excerpts from books published in the UK may also be available via UWE Online Digital Collections, where permissible, during the module period. Access details for UWE Online digital resources for this module will be included in the course handbook.
Indicative Reading List: (see guidance notes)
The following list is offered to provide validation panels/accrediting bodies with an indication of the type and level of information students may be expected to consult. As such, its currency may wane during the life span of the module specification. However, as indicated above, CURRENT advice on readings will be available via other more frequently updated mechanisms.
Students will be advised of texts, online tutorials and current publications.
However, Consistant background and extended research are:
http://www.animationarchive.org/
http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/
http://www.imagineanimation.net/?q=news
http://www.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/feature/49303/
http://www.skillset.org/animation/careers/article_4487_1.asp
Assessment
Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: B:
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1 A body of work including final outcomes, practical
development work, research, sketchbooks and reflective journal. 100%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is/is not required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1 A body of work including final outcomes, practical
development work, research, sketchbooks and reflective journal. 100%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)
Assessment criteria (how learning outcomes relate to elements of assessment):
Students will be assessed according to their fulfilment of the learning outcomes in respect of the following criteria:
Criteria Relation to learning Outcomes Source of evidence
1 critically evaluate their work in i), ii), v) Research, Reflective Journal
relation to a developing knowledge
and understanding of contemporary
practice and historical precedents.
2 produce a body of work that develops iv), vii) Body of Practical work and
and explores ideas and practical process supporting material
relevant to their practice
3 Manage and plan time effectively vii), viii), ix) Body of Practical work and
to generate a sustained body of work Research Material
4 Present completed work in a vi), vii), viii) Body of Practical work
considered way
5 Critically consider and discuss work iii), v), x) Body of Practical work and
in relation to intention and context Research, Reflective Journal