KE3006 - Sustainable Development

You will learn through a combination of lectures, seminars, IT practical workshops, fieldwork and self-directed study. Lectures will cover a broad range of topics and concepts from across the field of sustainable development. During seminar sessions, you will then complete a series of tasks that will allow you to apply and build upon knowledge gained from the lectures. You will also undertake a series of IT practical sessions which will introduce to you to ArcGIS software and geospatial analysis.

In addition to timetabled sessions, your independent study will be guided and supported through your engagement with a range of interactive learning resources accessible online via the module e-learning portal site.

You will be supported by the provision of formal lectures and practicals that will be led by the teaching team. You will benefit from teaching team support in seminars. You will engage in small group activities during seminars and fieldwork, which will enable you to benefit from peer interaction and support. In these sessions, you will also interact closely with teaching staff, who will provide formative support and feedback on activities leading up to the assessment tasks.

You will also be supported by the provision of online resources via the module e-learning portal (Blackboard). These resources include lecture and workshop information, an interactive reading list with on-line access to guided reading. Staff teaching on the module have an ‘open door’ approach during normal working hours and are responsive to communication via e-mail to support your learning.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO1: To gain an understanding of topics and concepts in the field of sustainable development.
• MLO2: Develop knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals and their relation to the Newcastle-Gateshead conurbation.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO3: The ability to work as a team to apply your understanding of concepts in sustainable development to complete a range of tasks across this discipline.
• MLO4: The ability to use ArcGIS software to produce an online app with georeferenced images.

Personal Values Attributes:
• MLO5: Work effectively individually and as part of a team towards the production of professional work, demonstrating written and data presentation skills.

During the first half of the semester, you will work in a group to complete a Sustainable Development portfolio (6 pages total). During the lectures you will be introduced to a range of topics from across the field of sustainable development. In the aligned seminar sessions, you will be set a series of tasks that will allow you to apply the theoretical knowledge you have learned in a more practical context. You will work in a group, but the portfolio will be an individual submission assessing MLOs 1, 3 and 5, and contributes to 50% of the module assessment.

During the second half of the semester, you will apply the knowledge that you have gained in a local context – issues of sustainability in the Newcastle-Gateshead conurbation. You will undertake fieldwork to collect relevant photographs. Subsequently, you will learn how to use ArcGIS software to produce an online app. Within your app, you will display the georeferenced images in an interactive format with accompanying text. The app will be an individual submission assessing MLOs 1, 2, 4 and 5, and comprises 50% of the module assessment.

Whilst your summative grades will be provided after final submission, you will receive informal formative feedback as you progress through the module, providing an indicator on your progress, whilst providing useful feedback to assist you with subsequent work.

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Issues surrounding sustainable development have become increasingly integral for the disciplines of Geography and Environmental Science. National and international targets for sustainability are core to urban and rural land management. Sustainability is not just about technology, energy efficiency, minimising waste and resource use. Sustainable development also needs to protect nature (biodiversity) and benefit local communities. There is an increasing demand for professionals who understand and can apply sustainability to the work environment, this means understanding aspects of geography, risk, environmental issues and social factors.

During this module you will explore a range of topics and concepts across the field of sustainable development. You will apply your theoretical understanding in a series of more practical tasks which you will undertake in seminar sessions. You will also learn how to use ArcGIS software to produce an online app illustrating of sustainability within our local area.