AD1KSE: Key Skills for Environmental Management and Sustainability

Module code: AD1KSE

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: 4

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Dr Laura Girling, email: laura.girling@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s):

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: No

Last updated: 18 November 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

This module is designed for students on the BSc Environmental Management programme. Gain fundamental knowledge of the different research approaches used in the scientific and socio-economic disciplines encompassed by the subject. Explore approaches being employed in related research topics in the School of Agriculture, Policy & Development and develop skills in research through group work on a particular research area. 

In addition, develop your study skills, including literature-based research, digital literacy, data manipulation and analysis, scientific writing and presentation, along with transferable skills relevant to employment in the environmental management field such as teamwork, project planning, time management, risk assessment and ethics. 

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Critically analyse, summarise and present information from a range of sources and correctly acknowledge sources 
2. Formulate a relevant research question and related hypotheses and design, and execute a collaborative research project 
3. Confidently present research findings and answer questions 
4. Apply ethical considerations, data protection procedures and relevant health and safety issues in planning research 

Module content

The course will start with sessions in Semester 1 covering study skills, time management, academic writing, referencing and academic integrity. Later in the semester sessions will focus on the research approaches, data and sampling, research ethics, health and safety and project planning.  Additional seminars will cover revision and exam technique.

Students will select a preferred research topic and apply skills in identifying source information and citing sources. Students will then work in small groups to implement their research topic, supervised by a member of the school staff, through identification of a research question, testable hypotheses and data gathering. Seminars in Semester 2 will focus on data manipulation, analysis and presentation. The groups will present their research to peers on the course.

Sessions towards the end of the course will build on experience of the research process and encourage a reflective approach to students understanding of their personal styles of study, research and role within a team context.

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The early part of the course will comprise a series of seminars focussing on study and research skills. In Semester 2 the approach will switch to supervised small group work with peers on the course, researching the background to a research topic, devising a research plan, gathering and analysing data, formulating findings and presenting their work. Towards the end of the module a number of seminars will cover reflection on personal learning style, evaluation of role within teams and relevance to development of appropriate professional skills.  

Study hours

At least 44 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• 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 (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/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.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Statement of bibliographic search terms and formatted reference list of papers relevant to group project.  Submitted towards the end of Semester 1. 

Reassessment

Additional costs