Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Spatial Thinking
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
GEOM2166 |
City Campus |
Undergraduate |
171H School of Science |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 2 2023, Sem 2 2024 |
Course Coordinator: Alan Both
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925
Course Coordinator Email: alan.both@rmit.edu.au
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
None
Course Description
Spatial thinking is a fundamental skill for understanding, exploring, and analysing our physical environment. This course introduces you to basic concepts and frameworks for explicitly understanding how data about space and time is used to structure problems and analytical approaches. You will examine key philosophies and how this is reflected in current spatial precepts. You will study in detail the characteristics of spatial data representation and reasoning and how this is applied. By the end of the course, you will be able to describe the differences between qualitative and quantitative data about space and time, related methods in representation and analysis, and demonstrate examples of spatial thinking in the real world.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs) for:
BH116 Bachelor of Surveying (Honours)
BH117 Bachelor of Geospatial Science (Honours)
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Describe key concepts and frameworks used in spatial thinking and relate these to practical settings.
- Differentiate types of data about space and time and how these are applied in spatial reasoning and analysis.
- Critically reflect on and articulate your developing knowledge/skills in spatial thinking.
- Communicate effectively using oral, written and/or graphical forms to peers both within small groups and to a wider audience.
Overview of Learning Activities
You will be actively engaged in a range of learning activities such as lectorials, tutorials, guest lectures, group and class discussions, individual and group activities, field-based activities, individual research, structured independent learning and self-directed learning. Delivery may be face to face, online or a mix of both.
You are encouraged to be proactive and self-directed in your learning, asking questions of your lecturer and/or peers and seeking out information as required, especially from the numerous sources available through the RMIT library, and through links and material specific to this course.
Overview of Learning Resources
Course-specific learning resources, lecture materials and assessment instructions will be provided via Canvas (the learning management system). These will be complemented by practice-based in-class and site-based learning activities. RMIT will provide you with resources and tools for learning in this course through myRMIT Studies Course Site.
There are services available to support your learning through the University Library. The Library provides guides on academic referencing and subject specialist help as well as a range of study support services. For further information, please visit the Library page on the RMIT University website and the myRMIT student portal.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment Tasks
Assessment Task 1: In-class individual and collaborative tasks (6)
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs: 1, 2 & 3
Assessment Task 2: Guest lecture reports (2)
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLOs: 1, 2 & 3
Assessment Task 3: Model development, presentation and reporting (3)
Weighting 40%
This assessment task supports CLOs: 1, 2, 3 & 4
If you have a long term medical condition and/or disability it may be possible to negotiate to vary aspects of the learning or assessment methods. You can contact the program coordinator or Equitable Learning Services if you would like to find out more.