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Description of Individual Course Units
| Course Unit Code | Course Unit Title | Type of Course Unit | Year of Study | Semester | Number of ECTS Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995001272026 | FORMING 1 | 1 | 1 | 5,00 |
Level of Course Unit
Önlisans
Language of Instruction
Turkish
Objectives of the Course
To provide theoretical knowledge on the plasticity, chemical, and physical characteristics of ceramic clay bodies; to develop practical mastery in foundational hand-building techniques (pinching, coiling, slab construction) and introductory wheel throwing; and to enable students to design and construct original 3D ceramic vessels and sculptural forms by managing wall thickness uniformity, joint integration (scoring and slipping), surface texturing, and controlled drying procedures.
Name of Lecturer(s)
Learning Outcomes
| 1 | Explains the plastic properties, drying stages, and firing dynamics of ceramic clay bodies theoretically. |
| 2 | Wedges and kneads clay using spiral/ram’s head techniques to homogenize moisture and remove trapped air. |
| 3 | Produces open and closed hollow vessel forms with uniform wall thickness using the pinching technique |
| 4 | Builds cylindrical, conical, and organic ceramic volumes with even cross-sections using the coiling technique. |
| 5 | Constructs precise angular and prismatic vessels from rolled slabs using template cutting and joint miter scoring. |
| 6 | Attaches functional elements (handles, lugs, foot rings) at the leather-hard stage using proper scoring and slipping, and applies surface texture. |
| 7 | Applies introductory wheel-throwing skills to center clay and pull a vertical cylinder, complying with occupational health and safety rules. |
Mode of Delivery
Face to Face
Prerequisities and Co-Requisities
Recommended Optional Programme Components
Students must wear studio aprons, particulate dust respirators (FFP2), and non-slip footwear to prevent silica inhalation and workshop accidents. Clay-laden tools must be washed in dedicated sedimentation basins to prevent drain blockage. Maintaining uniform wall thickness and proper scoring/slipping at the leather-hard stage is mandatory to avoid drying cracks and structural failures in the bisque kiln.
Content of the Course
Definition and mineralogical composition of ceramic clay bodies, plasticity dynamics, and clay preparation (wedging and kneading methods to eliminate air bubbles); stages of ceramic drying (plastic/wet, leather-hard, bone-dry, and bisque phases); pinching techniques for open and closed forms; coil construction for cylindrical and organic vessels; slab rolling, template cutting, and geometric/prismatic assembly; attaching handles, lugs, and footing at the leather-hard stage; surface stamping, carving, and sgraffito texturing; fundamental wheel throwing (centering and cylinder pulling); crack prevention, bisque kiln loading protocols, and studio safety.
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
| Week | Subjects (Theoretical) | Practice, Laboratory | Teaching Methods | Preparatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Origin of ceramics and basic terminology; mineralogical classification of clay bodies; plasticity and drying shrinkage. | Studio orientation, OHS rules, hand tool introduction, and storage setup. | Anlatım, Demonstrasyon. | Procurement of basic hand tools for ceramic shaping. |
| 2 | Clay preparation methods: wedging, spiral kneading, air entrapment risks, and structural homogeneity. | Wire slicing, batch weighing, and ram's head/spiral wedging exercises. | Demonstration and Guided Practice, Application. | Watching video demonstrations of kneading techniques. |
| 3 | finger pressure distribution, base thickness, and fissure control. | Forming small bowls and spherical studies via the pinching method. | Presentation, Individual Practice. | Sketching traditional bowl forms in a sketchbook. |
| 4 | Joining twin pinched bowls into closed hollow spheres; air release puncture mechanics. | Assembling hollow spheres, venting, and wooden paddling for surface contouring. | Demonstration and Guided Practice, Application. | Developing design ideas for closed spherical forms. |
| 5 | Coiling construction fundamentals: coil rolling consistency, base slab attachments, and wall pitch control. | Rolling even clay coils and welding initial layers onto circular base discs. | Explanation, Demonstration. | Examination of proper sliver-rolling techniques. |
| 6 | Internal and external coil compaction (welding); expanding and constricting profiles. | Raising organic vase vessels, maintaining even wall calipers, and rib smoothing. | Implementation is critical. | Creating the cross-sectional drawing of the vase form to be produced. |
| 7 | The leather-hard stage; relief stamping, pierced carving, sgraffito, and textural tooling. | Trimming foot rings on leather-hard vessels and executing surface texture carving. | Demonstration and Practice, Individual Work. | Collection of natural objects (tree bark, fabric, etc.) for surface texture. |
| 8 | Midterm Theoretical Examination covering clay chemistry, wedging, and hand-building. | Midterm Practical Assessment: Jury evaluation of pinch and coil assignments. | Examination and Jury Review. | Cleaning the works and presenting them to the jury in an exhibition layout. |
| 9 | Slab building methodology: rolling even sheets with guide slats, resting slabs, and warping control. | Rolling uniform slabs and drying on absorbent canvas/plaster boards. | Explanation, Demonstration | Preparing a cardboard template/mock-up for a geometric box or vase. |
| 10 | Slab cutting, 45-degree miter joints, aggressive cross-hatch scoring, and slip adhesion. | Cutting slabs via paper templates and assembling square vessels with structural reinforcing coils. | Demonstration and Guided Practice, Application. | Preparation of squares and metal rulers. |
| 11 | Handle ergonomics: form-function balance, pulled handles, and structural attachments. | Pulling handles from a clay carrot and attaching them to leather-hard vessels. | Demonstration, Individual Work. | Sketching various cup/pitcher handle shapes. |
| 12 | Potter's wheel mechanics: body posture, bracing arms, and wheel velocity control. | Mounting clay bats and executing introductory centering drills. | Explanation, Demonstration and Guided Practice. | Preparation of the lathe apron and sponges. |
| 13 | Wheel mechanics: drilling the opening, compressing the bottom, and vertical cylinder lifting. | Opening, pulling straight cylinder walls, and wire-cutting from the wheel head. | Demonstration and Practice, Individual Lathe Application. | Repetition of cylinder-pulling hand movements. |
| 14 | Drying physics: stages of water evaporation, critical shrinkage limits, and slow curing protocols. | Fettling seams, sponge-finishing rims, and wrapping projects for slow moisture leveling. | Implementation, Individual Critique. | Moisture loss control using plastic bags and packaging materials. |
| 15 | Bisque firing theory: kiln stacking, kiln furniture, quartz inversion (573°C), and ramp profiles. | Loading bone-dry greenware into the kiln and initiating the bisque firing cycle. | Explanation, Demonstration. | Checking the materials for bone-dry dryness. |
| 16 | Final Practical Examination & Portfolio Review. Jury evaluation of bisque-fired pinch, coil, slab, and wheel-thrown ceramic vessels. | Unloading the bisque kiln, exhibition staging, oral defense, and comprehensive workshop cleanup. | Final Exam / Jury Evaluation. | Sanding the bisque-fired pieces and preparing them on the display table. |
Text Book / Material / Recommended Resources
Hopper, R. (2000). The Ceramic Spectrum: A Simplified Approach to Glaze & Color Development. Krause Publications. Peterson, S., & Peterson, J. (2012). The Craft and Art of Clay: A Complete Potter's Handbook. Laurence King Publishing. Leach, B. (2012). A Potter's Book. Faber & Faber. Arcangeli, A. (2010). Seramik: Malzeme, Yöntem ve Teknikler. Karakalem Kitabevi. Düşük ve yüksek dereceli şekillendirme çamurları (kırmızı vakumlu çamur, şamotlu çamur, beyaz stoneware çamuru). Tel çamur kesici, ahşap merdane, plaka çıtaları, alçı tablalar/turlar.
Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Lecture: Visual, slide- and video-supported theoretical delivery covering clay mineralogy, plastic properties, firing temperature profiles, and drying dynamics. Demonstration: Live studio instruction on ram's head wedging, pinching, coil joining, slab seam welding, and introductory wheel centering. Studio Practice: Hands-on execution where students independently construct weekly form assignments and perform surface finishing. Desk Critique: Desk-side analysis and group critique evaluating produced works for wall thickness uniformity, axial symmetry, structural joint integrity, and balanced drying.
Assessment Methods and Criteria
| Term (or Year) Learning Activities | Quantity | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Midterm Examination | 1 | 100 |
| Total | 100 | |
| End Of Term (or Year) Learning Activities | Quantity | Weight |
| Final Examination | 1 | 100 |
| Total | 100 | |
| Term (or Year) Learning Activities | 40 | |
| End Of Term (or Year) Learning Activities | 60 | |
Work Pacement(s)
Workload Calculation
| Activities | Number | Time (hours) | Total Work Load (hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Midterm Examination | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Final Examination | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Attending Lectures | 14 | 3 | 42 |
| Practice | 14 | 1 | 14 |
| Self Study | 14 | 2 | 28 |
| Individual Study for Mid term Examination | 1 | 15 | 15 |
| Individual Study for Final Examination | 1 | 17 | 17 |
| Homework | 10 | 3 | 30 |
| Total Work Load (hours) | 150 | ||
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
| PO 1 | PO 2 | PO 3 | PO 4 | PO 5 | PO 6 | PO 7 | PO 8 | PO 9 | PO 10 | |
| LO 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| LO 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| LO 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| LO 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| LO 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| LO 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| LO 7 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 5 |
* Contribution Level: 1 Very low 2 Low 3 Medium 4 High 5 Very High