AP1AE05-Key Skills for Environmental Management

Module Provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development
Number of credits: 20 [10 ECTS credits]
Level:4
Terms in which taught: Autumn / Spring / Summer module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Only available to students on BSc Environmental Management
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2021/2

Module Convenor: Dr Yuan Pan
Email: yuan.pan@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:

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 team work, project planning, time management, risk assessment and ethics.

Aims:

The aims of the module are:

• To develop study skills in researching source material, referencing, writing and presenting, along with revision and exam technique.


• To develop students’ skills in gathering information from multiple sources, analysing and presenting data, and communicating the findings and implications of research.


• To develop professional skills relevant to the processes by which environmental management is practiced, including team work, project planning and understanding the social context in which environmental issues are addressed.


• To provide exposure to current research in the field of environmental management, including inter-disciplinary approaches.

To facilitate integration of knowledge learned on other modules on the course in different disciplines (scientific, socio-economic) and encourage application to problem solving in complex situations.

Assessable learning outcomes:

On completion of this module it is expected that a student will be able to:

• Critically analyse, summarise and present information from a range of sources and correctly acknowledge sources


• Formulate a relevant research question and related hypotheses and design, and execute a collaborative research project


• Accurately collect and record information, store and manipulate data, and analyse using appropriate statistical software


• Demonstrate the ability to write in various styles


• Confidently present research findings and answer questions


• Understand the importance of academic integrity


• Apply ethical considerations, data protection procedures and relevant health and safety issues in planning research


• Manage, evaluate and reflect upon their own learning style and personal approaches to study.

Additional outcomes:

• Apply knowledge, concepts and approaches from a range of disciplines to address complex environmental problems


• Develop a range of transferrable and employability skills including team work, written communication, verbal communication, time management, IT, critical analysis, numeracy, initiative, organisational, time management, negotiating, leadership, decision making, creativity, independence and a reflective approach to practice.


• Develop effective revision strategies and exam technique.

Outline content:

Autumn term:

The course will start with sessions covering study skills, time management, academic writing, referencing and academic integrity.Ìý Later in the term seminar sessions will focus on the research approaches, data and sampling, research ethics, health and safety and project planning.

Spring term:

Students will select a preferred research topic and apply skills in identifying source information and citing sources.Ìý 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 da