GV3PFF-Preparing For Floods

Module Provider: Geography and Environmental Science
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:6
Terms in which taught: Spring term module
Pre-requisites: GV1D Hydrology
Non-modular pre-requisites:
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2019/0

Module Convenor: Prof Hannah Cloke

Email: h.l.cloke@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
The module will provide a basis for understanding key issues in flood preparedness, from the local to the global scale, including flood forecasting and warning, response and incident management and building community resilience. The module uses lectures, seminars for discussion and includes a visit to the European Flood Awareness System operational centre. As students on this module will come from a range of academic backgrounds students will be able to select assignment questions from scientific modelling and social science and policy based questions. The module will be partially run in conjunction with GVMPFF to increase opportunity for peer discussion.

Aims:

Assessable learning outcomes:
Assessable outcomes

• An understanding of the key components of a flood preparedness strategy in different contexts.
• An understanding the key scientific and policy concepts used in flood risk management.
• Ability to critically evaluate flood preparedness policy and practice in a national and international context

Additional outcomes:

Outline content:
Outline content: This module will introduce students to the each of the key issues in flood preparedness. Lectures and seminars will cover:

• Flood preparedness: a multi-faceted problem
• Flood forecasting and warning, UK & international
• Flood response and incident management: policy and practice
• Flood risk management for river catchments under a changing climate and a changing landscape
• Building community resilience to flooding

The students will be encouraged, through guided reading and discussion, to critique current flood preparedness science, policy and practice. The module will draw on national and international examples, including the European Flood Awareness System.

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
The first 5 weeks of the module will involve 2 hour lectures providing an introduction to a key issue in flood preparedness, which will be supported by directed readings around the topic. The remaining 5 weeks will involve 2 hour seminars, where key concepts and readings from the lectures are discussed. Participation in the seminars is compulsory and will be assessed in terms of understanding of concepts through a written seminar diary. Students will select a written assignment question from science, social science and policy based questions.

Contact hours:

	Autumn	Spring	Summer
Lectures		10
Seminars		10
Practicals classes and workshops		3
Fieldwork		7
External visits		4
Guided independent study:
Wider reading (independent)		26
Wider reading (directed)		26
Preparation for seminars		8
Preparation of practical report		8
Group study tasks		10
Essay preparation		80
Reflection		8
Total hours by term	0	200	0
Total hours for module	200

Summative Assessment Methods:

Method	Percentage
Written assignment including essay	45
Portfolio	30
Class test administered by School	25

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:

1 Seminar Diary, 1000 words max

1 Coursework essay, 2500 words max

1 Computer Practical worksheet assessed in class.

Formative assessment methods:
Oral feedback in seminars

Penalties for late submission:
The Module Convener will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day[1] (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of five working days;

where the piece of work is submitted more than five working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/FILES/qualitysupport/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf
You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Assessment requirements for a pass:

40%

Reassessment arrangements:

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 8 April 2019