Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Environmental planning and management focuses on decision-making processes and practices that aim to mitigate human impact on complex natural systems. This unit is intended to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how the environment informs the decisions and activities of built environment professionals by introducing principles, tools, and approaches to the identification and assessment of impacts and risk.

Aims

The unit will:

1. promote your learning about the theories, empirical experience, and application of environmental planning and management;
2. enhance your knowledge of the opportunities that environmental issues provide in terms of the relative strengths and weaknesses of this approach to decision-making; and
3. introduce the application methods of environmental planning and management through interaction with practitioners and case study analysis.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you will have:

1. developed knowledge of theories, processes and significant topics in environmental planning and management;
2. developed an understanding of the critical issues determining the application of environment-based strategies;
3. developed the ability to apply environmental planning and management methods and tools effectively; and
4. developed abilities necessary for effective written and oral communication with discipline specialists and non-specialists in a variety of contexts and modes.

Content

The unit addresses theoretical foundations, history, frameworks, and applications of environmental planning and management. Topics will include, but are not limited to:

• analyses &management of environmental impacts: identification of impacts; market-based, technological, and policy strategies to mitigate impacts; and nonmarket valuation; pollution control strategies


• analytic tools to guide decision-making: environmental economics; cost-benefit analyses; and spatial data analyses and modelling (GIS)


• planning under uncertainty: climate change mitigation and adaptation; scenario planning; disaster management and resilience; and adaptive planning and management

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching will be structured around lectures, computer labs, and studios. The unit is structured in two halves - the first relies on lectures delivered by QUT staff, self-guided computer labs, and online discussions of unit readings, whilst the second is primarily studio-based, with occasional guest lectures.

In the first six weeks of the semester you will be exposed to ideas underpinning differing environmental ethos, key aspects of legislation and policy which guide built environment activities relative to environmental constraints, and exemplars of innovative practice from around the world. Outside of unit meeting times, you will be reading Green Urbanism Down Under and will engage in discussions of innovative practice from Australia, linking up lectures and readings to develop your own ideas on ways of improving environmental outcomes at multiple scales. During this period you'll also allocate to computer labs where you will undertake self-paced learning using industry standard GIS software to gain skills in geospatial analyses which will be applied in the second half of the unit. Successful completion of the online training materials will result in a certificate for inclusion in your resume, with competency in the use and application of your new skills assessed in a mid-semester exam in Week 7.

Unit meetings in weeks eight through twelve will be held in a studio format, with students working collaboratively in groups, supported by staff, to apply environmental planning and management tools to a 'Real World' case study. Our analyses of the case study will be guided by the classic Design with Nature.

Your participation in unit activities, as well as active engagement with the unit materials and ideas, is essential to successful completion of the assessments described below.

Assessment

Assessment for this unit involves both independent and collaborative work efforts. Participation in studios is essential to successful completion of this unit, particularly as the third piece of assessment is a group project.Students will receive both formative and summative feedback on assessments. Formative feedback will occur in the form of face-to-face dialogues and electronic exchanges amongst and between students and teaching staff.

Assessment name: Discussion Forum
Description: Environmental Planning & Management Discussion Forum.
As part of this assessment you will engage with colleagues and in an online discussion forum in Weeks 1-5, responding to prompts to link ideas from unit lectures and readings with your evolving understanding of built environment practices. You will be expected to post at least one response each week in order to receive full credit. You should consider reading Green Urbanism Down Under during the semester break in order to be prepared to engage with unit content starting in Week 1.
Your weekly postings will be assessed only on a credit/no credit basis, with no credit allowed for late postings or for postings devoid of substantive content. While your responses should be your own work, you are encouraged to reference the unit texts and other materials as well as to discuss the questions with your colleagues throughout the semester to help foster group learning. Active engagement in this Assessment will aid ion your preparation for Assessment Two.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 15%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 6

Assessment name: Examination (written)
Description: Assessing Acquisition of Analytic Skills & Understanding of Environmental Planning & Management Concepts.
For this assessment, you will undertake an invigilated examination assessing your acquisition of analytic skills learned through online GIS training and understanding of environmental planning & management concepts from unit lectures and unit readings. The exam will be a combination of multiple-choice, short answer and essay questions.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Assessment name: Professional Plans
Description: 'Real World' Case Study Conceptual Plan & Presentation.
Working in teams, you'll collaboratively develop conceptual plans to address a set of issues related to the unit 'Real World' case study, building on analyses using GIS and other tools. You'll be required to 'pitch' the plan as if to a selection committee through production of a short multi-media presentation.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight: 55%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 13

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

There are two prescribed texts for the unit:

Beatley, T. 2009. Green urbanism down under: Learning from sustainable communities in Australia. Washington, DC: Island Press.

McHarg, I.L. 1995 (1969). Design with Nature. Wiley.

Additional readings will be available on the unit Blackboard site.

Risk assessment statement

Students will be required to undertake a field trip under the supervision of the lecturer and technical staff of the School. The School's occupational health and safety policies and procedures will apply to these sessions. Students will be informed of any requirements pertaining to a safe workplace. In lectures, tutorials and such, the information will include location of fire exits and meeting points in case of fire; in any laboratory practicals students will be advised of requirements of safe and responsible behaviour and will be required to wear appropriate protective items (e.g. steel capped shoes); on any field trips or site visits, all students will progress through a safety induction session and where necessary obtain a safety induction card. Students who do not follow legitimate instructions or who endanger the safety of others or do not act in accordance with the requirements of the Workplace Health and Safety Act, will be required to leave the session/site.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 30-May-2012