AD1EEM: Ecology and Environmental Management

Module code: AD1EEM

Module provider: School of Agriculture, Policy and Development

Credits: 20

Level: Level 1 (Certificate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1 / 2

Module convenor: Ms Rebecca Jerrome, email: r.m.jerrome@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s): This module is only available to BSc Environmental Management and Sustainability students. (Open)

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: Yes

Last updated: 20 May 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

Students will be introduced, via a series of lectures, and visits, to the complexity of managing a range of local environments and will receive an introduction to the ways in which land designations are applied and the changing nature of landscape management.

Please note that places on this module are restricted and preference will be given to BSc Environmental Management and BSc Ecology and Wildlife Conservation students.

Module learning outcomes

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

1. Research, describe and critically evaluate environmental and management issues
2. Clearly discuss important local habitats and wider environmental issues and demonstrate an understanding of the demands of competing interest groups
3. Keep field notes and critically reflect on their own learning experience
4. Select appropriate literature and demonstrate evidence of wide and critical reading and reference correctly using the Harvard Referencing System
5. Develop key employability skills, including reflection, communication (written and verbal), sector career experience and networking, and teamwork

Module content

• Field visits to a range of local habitats e.g. chalk grassland, woodland and heathland
• Presentations from outside speakers
• Lectures covering landscape character mapping, habitat and species conservation, wildlife management, including of problem species, land designations, and the changing nature of landscape management
• Student presentations on a relevant environmental management issue

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module covers a range of teaching and learning methods, including lectures, teamworking and field visits. 

Study hours

At least 45 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: /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.

Students will have the opportunity to undertake a Habitat and Site Survey on the campus.  

Reassessment

Additional costs