Unit Outline
KGA521
Urban Planning and Design
Semester 2, 2024
Kate Booth
School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
College of Sciences and Engineering
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Kate Booth
Email: Kate.Booth@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
The principles and practices of urban planning and design shape the physical spaces and social lives of our towns and cities. In this unit, you will learn about the historic and theoretical context of urban design and planning, including Aboriginal approaches and perspectives. By gaining a deeper understanding of urban environments, you will build knowledge of contemporary towns and cities by studying key urban dynamics and processes such as climate adaptation, colonialisation, liveability, and insurgent planning . Focusing on a socio-economically diverse area, you will apply this knowledge in formulating just urban policy and developing a strategic plan for urban change. You will also develop knowledge and skills in urban design by applying design principles in on-the-ground evaluations of urban streetscapes. In this unit, you will benefit from applied case studies, and extensive engagement with professionals.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1
Evaluate knowledge of the role of planning in colonisation to support the decolonisation of contemporary planning practice
2
Analyse quantitative, qualitative and spatial data to enable evidence-based urban decision-making
3
Critically apply urban design and strategic planning methods and principles to address complex urban problems
4
Execute graphic, written and verbal communication skills tailored to diverse audiences to contribute to just and equitable urban change
Alterations as a result of student feedback
The second half of semester has been redesigned to introduce a novel approach to urban strategic planning. Assessment tasks have also been revised. 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Workshop
Weekly workshops
2
Weekly
Fieldwork
Two field trips (half day and full day)
7
Once only (2 times)
Lecture (Online)
No Description
2
Weekly
Independent Learning
Required readings, videos, podcasts, and assessment tasks.
14
Weekly
Online
Workshop (Online)
Weekly online workshops
2
Weekly
Lecture (Online)
No Description
2
Weekly
Fieldwork
Two virtual field trips
7
Once only (2 times)
Independent Learning
Required readings, videos, podcasts, and assessment tasks
14
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 

How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Weekly tasks
Week 3
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:
Urban Design Journal
Week 8
40 %
LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Urban strategic planning
Week 14
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Weekly tasks
Task Description:
For most sessions there are weekly tasks and activities. These are designed to consolidate and reinforce the knowledge and skills gained each week through lectures, videos, podcasts, workshops and self-directed activities. This assessment task assesses your learning from Session 1 and 2.

More details are provided in MyLO and during workshops.
Task Length:
1000 words, plus/minus 10%
Due Date:
Week 3 (08/Aug/2024)
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Awareness of pre-European urban planning
LO1
2
Understanding of contemporary Aboriginal urban places
LO1
3
Adaptation of urban planning concepts and principles to diverse cultural contexts
LO1, LO3
4
Engagement with workshop activities and session materials
LO1, LO2, LO3
5
Reflection based on your own observations and perceptions
LO2, LO3, LO4
6
Correct English and referencing, logically structured, adheres to the word limit
LO4
 
Assessment Task 2: Urban Design Journal
Task Description:
You will develop a journal of your observations and experience of urban design in, and around, the Hobart CBD. Your completed journal will be a qualitative documentation, using text and images, of what makes a city a good or bad place to be, and potential urban design responses for improving the quality of a place.

More details are provided in MyLO and workshops.
Task Length:
2000 words, plus images (photographs, maps/drawings)
Due Date:
Week 8 (16/Sep/2024)
 

Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Analysis urban design elements at your site in central Hobart
LO2, LO3
2
Critically apply urban design principles to your site in central Hobart
LO3
3
Apply qualitative methods to document your site in central Hobart
LO2, LO3, LO4
4
Create an urban design journal based on personal observations and experiences, and original images
LO3, LO4
5
Engagement with workshop activities and session materials
LO2, LO3
6
Correct English, logically structured, correctly referenced, adheres to the word and image limits
LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Urban strategic planning
Task Description:
In this essay, you will prepare an urban strategic planning response to a Hobart-based scenario. You will critically engage in the principles of insurgent planning and liveability in developing the rationale and justification for this strategic plan.

More details are provided in MyLO and workshops.
Task Length:
4000 words, plus or minus 10%
Due Date:
Week 14 (29/Oct/2024)
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply principles of insurgent planning to a strategic planning scenario
LO1, LO3
2
Critically adapt ideas of liveability to a strategic planning scenario
LO2, LO3
3
Develop an integrated strategic plan to address this scenario
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
4
Demonstrate engagement with unit activities, contents and materials
LO2, LO3, LO4
5
Write a report in correct English, logically structured, correctly referenced, and adhering to the word limit
LO4
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see
Important Guidelines & Support.
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 

 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
Essential readings will be provided for each session, and you are expected to draw on these in sessions and assessment tasks. All of the sources are made available on MyLO, or in links provided in lecture powerpoints.
 
Recommended reading materials
 
 
Other required resources