Course Outline

NAME of DEPARTMENT with YEAR:
General Studies 2011, Semester 1, FST 201

NAME OF COURSE (General- Subject name) The Autism Village Project and Designing a Miniature Futuristic Semi-Urban Space
DATE/ DURATION OF COURSE: From July 18- for five weeks(21 days/ 4 credits)
Monday mornings will be for library research until otherwise specified and Thursday afternoons off for wellness.

TITLE OF COURSE – The Autism Village Project and Designing a Miniature Futuristic Semi-Urban Space
Co-ordinating Faculty: (with Background of Education)
Dr A.V.Koshy (M.A., Ph.D, University of Kerala)
Supporting Resource Persons: Thys Van Der Veer , Michele Baron (online)

Guest speakers: None.

Course Abstract: It is a known fact that one out of 90-110 children are on the autistic spectrum in USA. Ten years back it was 1 in 900-1100. The exact statistics is not known in India. What is worth thinking of is that if we project this into the future we seemingly get a world in another 20 years where everyone is abled, differently-abled and disabled. This course is about designing an inclusive village for neurotypicals and those on the autistic spectrum where the latter is at the center and privileged.
Course Brief: The course will deal with designing for humanity, service design, cost-effectiveness, environment friendliness, ecological design, landscape design, space management, farming, community involvement, management, innovation, entrepreneurship, inclusive design, community planning, architectural design and systems design…
Course Objectives: The end product will be a small scale 3D model of an autistic village. First small groups will do parts and then it will all come together. Drawing,sketching, rendering, 3D modelling will all be needed. The learning objective is mastering the group dynamics in working towards designing future semi-urban spaces for general and specialized groups.
Elements of the Course:

(Actual working of the course including theory, skills, performance tasks, projects …)
* Discussions and talks on spaces, architecture, planning,
*Skills – reading, listening, discussing, writing, speaking, analyzing, critiquing, problem solving, critiquing, drawing, rendering, using google sketch up, google maps etc.
* Performance tasks – Working on 3D model(s)/, modeling,
learning of engineering, maths, materials, space, light, inside, outside, weight, base, superstructure etc…

Course Evaluation :
Students will be evaluated on the following aspects of the course
�� Completeness, promptness/timely delivery and quality of weekly/biweekly assignments
�� Participation in class discussions including questions and observations on instructors’ lectures and on other students’ works/presentations
�� Contribution and cooperation amongst students groups, on activities and assignments in and outside of class related to the course.
(�� Design – innovation, aesthetics, clarity, usability involved in Products, Services, Systems concepts
�� Stakeholder satisfaction – benefit of the concept to the user/user group and other stakeholders
�� Environmental and socio-ethical sustainability – viability of technological, social or system innovation that promotes sustainability
�� Analysis and presentation of their assignment on the design project/s
The faculty will determine the individual grade. In addition to considering the above aspects of the course,the faculty will also weigh comments by the guest critics. However, the faculty, if a group, acting in concert, will determine the grades.

Reading List:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autism_spectrum_disorder
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_autism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervasive_developmental_disorders
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rett_syndrome
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childhood_Disintegrative_Disorder
More to be found as links on autism group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/autismvillage etc.
Evokation
http://ppsekoshyav.blogspot.com
References:
How Buildings Learn video series etc.
The Genius of Design videos.
Vinay Gupta - http://hexayurt.com/
Buckminster Fuller – powerpoint.
http://www.picnicnetwork.org
http://www.thewhyfactory.com/
www.zynga.com/ (cityville)
http://www.procedural.com/
Google sketch up
Google maps
Google earth
http://www.thevenusproject.com/en/technology/city-systems
http://www.bfi.org/
http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/being/programs/2011/07/12/20110714_autism_and_humanity_128.mp3?_kip_ipx=2000853794-1311003362