Fourth year Architecture unit: KDA712 Professional Studies: folio of ten scenarios

Developed by Moira Cordiner, Ceridwen Owen and Ken Pearson-Smith

This is an introductory unit about legal process, practice management and professional ethics as they apply to architectural practice in the building industry. Before the criteria sheet was developed, the learning outcomes were revised so they reflected the intent of the unit better and would more easily translate into criteria for the task.

Synopsis of the task and its context

The task comprises ten building project scenarios (smaller tasks) involving architectural practice and the selection, execution and administering of building contracts. Each involves students using the skills of situational analysis to identify issues and legal implications from an architect’s perspective. Students then make recommendations to solve problems based on evidence –based arguments. Central to each scenario is responding ethically in terms of the architect’s professional obligations and duty of care to clients. Students are expected to communicate their answers to scenario questions in professional writing and use relevant terminology.

Note that the criteria sheet on the next page describes expectations for the folio of ten scenarios, not each one.

Match between objectives/learning outcomes and criteria for the task

learning outcomes (revised) / Task-specific criteria
On completion of this unit, you should be able to: / To complete the folio of scenarios you are to:
1. demonstrate and apply knowledge of the following to architectural practice:
  • basic theory and concepts of legal process as they apply to the building industry
  • practice management
  • professional ethics
/ 1.demonstrate and apply knowledge to:
  • architectural practice
  • selection, execution and administering of building contracts

2. use the skills of situational analysis to interpret and critically evaluate architectural practice and building project scenarios to:
  • identify ethical, practical and legal issues and implications
  • make recommendations to solve the problems described in the scenarios, based on evidence-based arguments
/ 2. use the skills of situational analysis to interpret and critically evaluate scenarios to:
  • identify issues and implications
  • make recommendations to solve problems based on evidence-based arguments

  1. communicate in professional writing
/ 3.communicate in professional writing:
  • expression and English conventions (spelling, punctuation, grammar)
  • using terminology

Folio of scenarios- task 1 / Weighting 50%
Criteria / HD / DN / CR / PP
Across the folio you: / Across the folio you: / Across the majority of the folio you: / For at least half of the folio you:
1.demonstrate and apply knowledge to architectural practice /
  • consistently demonstrated and perceptively applied comprehensive knowledge to architectural practice by:
/
  • consistently demonstrated and applied comprehensive knowledge to architectural practice by:
/
  • demonstrated and applied knowledge to architectural practice by:
/
  • demonstrated and applied fundamental knowledge to architectural practice by:

 accurately relating the relevant basic theory and concepts of legal process to each building industry scenario /  accurately relating the relevant basic theory and concepts of legal process to each building industry scenario /  accurately relating the relevant basic theory and concepts of legal process to each building industry scenario
 correctly recalling terms, definitions, factors, forms, types, as required by scenario questions /  correctly recalling terms, definitions, factors, forms, types, as required by scenario questions /  correctly recalling terms, definitions, factors, forms, types, as required by scenario questions
correctly, and in detail, stating the main advantages and disadvantages of, and alternatives to, various architectural practice management processes highlighted in the scenarios /  correctly stating the main advantages and disadvantages of various architectural practice management processes highlighted in the scenarios /  correctly stating the main advantages and disadvantages of various architectural practice management processes highlighted in the scenarios /  correctly stating advantages and disadvantages of various architectural practice management processes highlighted in the scenarios
 responding ethically in terms of your professional obligations and duty of care, to the challenges posed in the scenarios
2. use the skills of situational analysis to interpret and critically evaluate scenarios to:
  • identify issues and implications
  • make recommendations to solve problems based on evidence-based arguments
/
  • used the skills of situational analysis to thoroughly and astutely interpret and critically evaluate scenarios to:
/
  • used the skills of situational analysis to thoroughly interpret and critically evaluate scenarios to:
/
  • used the skills of situational analysis to interpret and critically evaluate scenarios to:
/
  • used the skills of situational analysis to interpret and critically evaluate scenarios to:

 correctly identify and prioritise the key issues and implications in terms of legal process and architect’s responsibility /  correctly identify the key issues and implications in terms of legal process and architect’s responsibility /  correctly identify the key issues and implications in terms of legal process and architect’s responsibility /  correctly identify the key issues and implications in terms of legal process and architect’s responsibility
 make realistic, plausible and fair recommendations to solve problems:
 based on logically- structured and convincing alternative arguments
 supported by authoritative and relevant evidence /  make realistic, plausible and fair recommendations to solve problems:
 based on logically- structured and convincing arguments
 supported by authoritative and relevant evidence /  make realistic and fair recommendations to solve problems:
 based on convincing arguments
 supported by mostly authoritative and relevant evidence /  make mostly realistic and fair recommendations to solve problems:
 based on partly convincing arguments
 supported by some authoritative and relevant evidence
3.communicate in professional writing:
  • expression and English conventions (spelling, punctuation, grammar)
  • using terminology
/
  • consistently communicated in fluent professional writing by:
/
  • communicated in fluent professional writing by:
/
  • communicated in fluent professional writing by:

 using clear, concise and cohesive expression by adhering to English conventions /  using clear and cohesive expression by adhering to English conventions /  using clear and mostly cohesive expression by adhering to English conventions
 using relevant and accurate terminology /  using relevant and accurate terminology /  using relevant and accurate terminology
Comment and grade

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