Organic and Inorganic Materials (5 ECTS)

Objective

- The student will identify the organic and inorganic materials found in objects and she/he will master their properties and behaviour.
- The student will recognize the most common materials used to manufacture cultural historical, ethnographical and archaeological objects.
- The student will be familiar with the history of material use as well as aging and deterioration processes.
- The student will understand the development of various manufacturing techniques and its effect on the preservation and conservation of objects.
- The student will adapt an investigative attitude towards the care, conservation and documentation of objects.
- The student will identify the speciality and integrity of ethnographical textiles and other objects by indigenous people and the context associated to those, and their effect on conservation treatment.
- The student will understand the interaction of different materials and their deterioration mechanism as well as the risks associated to their conservation.

Content

- Properties and behavior of organic materials
- The most common materials used to manufacture cultural historical, ethnographical, and archaeological objects
- Deterioration of materials and objects, preventive conservation
- Deepening and development of one’s expertise both manually and theoretically

Location and time

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Degree Programme in Conservation's premises.

Materials

Literature list and study hand-outs given by the lecturer before the course start and during the course.

Teaching methods

Lectures, contact teaching, problem based learning, guided assignments and independent assignments, independent work with literature, exam. Tuition is in Finnish.

Employer connections

The study module will be implemented in cooperation with a local museum.

Completion alternatives

No other course will replace this course as this is a basic course for textile conservation purposes where students can test their abilities in practice.

Student workload

The weekly working hours of a student is 1,5 cr which is equivalent to 40 hours of studies. 40 hours is formed from approx. 15 - 20 hours of contact studies with a lecturer. The remaining hours is spent by independent literature survey or practical work. 1 credit (cr) is equivalent to 27 hours (h).

Further information

During the study module the student should read up on the given literature together with practical work.

The course will be implemented as a project based learning. The idea is learning through making practical work. Student has a role as an investigative learner.

Evaluation scale

0-5

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

The student has a lot of absences from the teaching sessions. Activity during the teaching sessions and learning assignments is unsatisfactory. The student should improve her/his group working skills. The student can grasp the basic ideas of the subject, but the problem solving is limited and ability to apply theory to a practical work requires development. The student does not work independently and there is a lot of need for teacher’s further guidance. The student has not given a requisite amount of attention for the subject and the learning result is fragmented. The student needs to develop her/his skills and knowledge in many areas. The student needs a lot of training in her/his manual skills and techniques.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

The student has taken part to all teaching sessions and learning assignments and the activity during the course is good. The student acts flexibly as a group member. Work progresses consistently during the study period. The student understands the basic ideas of the course and can apply theoretical studies in practical work. The student understands the importance of the things to be learned for the professional field and the related cause and effect relationships. The student’s work has been sufficiently independent, but there is still need for guidance. The student manages the set of tasks and has achieved a good level at her/his skills and knowledge. The student has achieved good manual skills and techniques required in conservation.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

The course objectives have been achieved in a competent manner. The student has participated actively and constructively in the teaching and learning assignments. The student has acted as group member encouragingly and strengthening teamwork. The student understands the things taught in the course commendably and can apply what she/he has learned in accordance with the requirements of her/his professional field. The student understands and knows to anticipate the cause-and-effect relationships of the activities related to the matters to her/his professional field.
The student’s work has been sufficiently independent. The student masters the whole subject both in theory and practice. The student has achieved an excellent level in her/his skills and knowledge. The student has excellent manual skills and techniques required in conservation.

Assessment criteria, approved/failed

The student has a lot of absences from the teaching sessions. Activity during the teaching sessions and learning assignments is unsatisfactory. The student should improve her/his group working skills. The student can grasp the basic ideas of the subject, but the problem solving is limited and ability to apply theory to a practical work requires development. The student does not work independently and there is a lot of need for teacher’s further guidance. The student has not given a requisite amount of attention for the subject and the learning result is fragmented. The student needs to develop her/his skills and knowledge in many areas. The student needs a lot of training in her/his manual skills and techniques.

Assessment methods and criteria

Learning assignment 80 %, continuous assessment 20 %.
Assessment is based on continuous assessment of a student, attendance, practical excersises and their assessment. Each student is assessed from the starting point of her/his abilities. MInimum 80 % presence of contact studies must fullfill. All given assignments must be done according to given instructions.

Qualifications

Textile Materials, Techniques and Fibre Identification 5 cr, Chemistry I 5 cr, Chemistry I/cont. 5 cr, Chemistry II 5 cr, Stitching Techniques in Textile Conservation 5 cr, Dyeing and Colour Theory 5 cr, Cleaning Methods in Textile Conservation I 5 cr, Cleaning Methods in Textile Conservation II 5 cr, Adhesives used in Conservation 5 cr

Further information

The course is implemented as a project-based learning. The starting point is learning through practical work. Student her-/himself has a role as an investigative learner.

Further information

The course is implemented as a project-based learning. The starting point is learning through practical work. Student her-/himself has a role as an investigative learner.