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

This unit is fundamental in ensuring that students obtain a balanced and clear introduction to the theory of land use planning and its practices. Land use planning is one of the primary functions of the planning profession. Therefore, it is important that students obtain hands-on training on it so that they feel competent when it comes to their professional career. Importantly, this unit will set the foundation for future units.

Aims

This unit aims to:
1. promote students' learning about the theory and practice of land use planning; and
2. equip students with analytical and problem solving skills required in land use planning profession.

Objectives

1. Have skills in statutory land use and strategic planning;
2. Understand the legal context of land use designations;
3. Understand and interpret matters relevant to a land use planning problem and;
4. Develop capability to analyse the (ir)rationality associated with different land use arrangement in a city; and
5. Deliver a presentation in a professional manner.

Content

Major topics to be covered include the theoretical arguments with respect to property rights and land use, the history of land use planning and the development of planning in Australia, the different performance and prescriptive zoning methods applied to public and private land, the levels of government and planning agencies responsible for land use planning in Queensland, with respect to their mandate, and jurisdictions, and the land development process and the regulations that govern land use planning. Real world case studies to be undertaken in tutorials in order to transform these theoretical understandings into practice using the Geographical Information Systems.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode: Hours per week: 3
Lecture: Students are required to attend 1 hour of lecture per week
Tutorial: Students are required to attend 2 hours of tutorial per week

Learning Approaches:
Learning approaches will cover the following:

Problem based - You will collaboratively solve problems and reflect on your experiences. This learning approach is driven by demanding, open-ended problems, where students will work in small groups facilitated by their tutors.

Self directed learning - will take the form of presentation seminars where the students will have primary responsibility for planning, implementing, and even evaluating.

Individual learning and Refection- will build knowledge through individual reflection about the social and ethical aspects of land use planning through personal evaluation, in light of interaction with others and the environment around them.

Team based learning - you will acquire your initial knowledge of the content through readings, you will then be required to apply this knowledge using a series of team application exercises.

Presentation and Exposition - you will be required to present seminars to your tutorial groups on a range of land use planning topics. These seminar presentations will be delivered in a manner representative of the expectations of the land use planning profession.

Assessment

QUT's Assessment Policy is located at MOPP C/5.1.

Assessment for this unit involves both independent and collaborative work. Assessment will be based on laboratory (individual), a mid-term exam (individual), and seminar presentation in a group.Formative and summative feedback will be offered by teaching staff during the course of lectures and tutorial session to assist with assessment items. Formative feedback will occur in the form of face-to-face dialogues and electronic exchanges amongst and between students and teaching staff.

Assessment name: Land use mapping exercise
Description: GIS skills related to land use mapping.
Relates to objectives: 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5 (in tutorial)

Assessment name: Mid-Semester Exam
Description: Multiple choice questions. Mid-semester exam on topics covered in lectures and tutorials.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8 (in lecture)

Assessment name: GIS project
Description: Presentation in Week 12 and Week 13 in tutorials.
Using GIS to analyse land use plan of Brisbane.
Relates to objectives: 4, 5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 12 & 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

Required readings will be available on the Blackboard site.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit.

Additional Costs:
Additional costs may incur due to site visit located in Brisbane only one day in this semester.

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: 20-Jun-2012