URBPLAN 303 : Ecology and Resilience

Creative Arts and Industries

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

A critical analysis of the ecological view towards the concepts of resilience; social-ecological systems models, considering wicked problems and the impacts of climate change.

Course Overview

This course aims to:
• Develop an understanding of the technical approach to estimating environmental risks, and how this process is influenced by socio-political systems.
• Explain how risk analysis and management integrates with concepts of strategic environmental assessment and sustainable development.
• Explore the evolution of ‘wicked problems’ and, related to this, an understanding of resilience theory and practice and social-ecological systems modelling.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: URBPLAN 201-205

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Distinguish between technical environmental risk estimates and socio-political risk assessments. (Capability 1.1 and 1.2)
  2. Understand the purpose of strategic environmental assessment and its relationship to risk estimates and assessments. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3)
  3. Critically assess the nature of 'wicked problems' as they relate to risk and SEA. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 6.1)
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the usefulness and limitations for decision-making of resilience theory and social-ecological systems modelling. (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignment 30% Individual Coursework
Assignment 30% Individual Coursework
Assignments 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignment
Assignment
Assignments

Teaching & Learning Methods

Teaching is lecture and assignment based.

All readings will be posted on Canvas during the semester.
Queries about course content and related issues can be made through Canvas, or directly via email to the course co-ordinator.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 33 hours of lectures,  an average of  three contact hours per week, three hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Lecture attendance is required.
Lectures will be available as recordings. All lecture slides will be provided on Canvas, along with readings.
Use will be made of discussion platforms on Canvas from time to time.

The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

All readings and copies of the lectures will be posted on Canvas.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Previous feedback for this course has helped refine the course content, particularly in terms of explaining and demonstrating the concept of resilience.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Recordings of lectures will be made available through Canvas.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

You will be required to submit your completed assignments on-line to a plagiarism checking website called Turnitin. Go to www.turnitin.com and, if you have not done so before, register to set up your own account. Details for uploading your assignments to Turnitin will be provided with the course outline.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

In the event of unexpected disruption

We undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions, the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. In the event of a disruption, the University and your course coordinators will make every effort to provide you with up to date information via Canvas and the University website.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 03/12/2020 02:15 p.m.