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2011 Undergraduate Catalogue of Courses

GLOBAL WORLDS, GLOBAL CHALLENGES

GLOBAL WORLDS, GLOBAL CHALLENGES
Course Code
GG 1007
Credit Points
15
Course Coordinator
Dr N Spedding

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

This course may not be included in a graduating curriculum with GG 1005, GG 1006 or GC 1001.

Overview

Related study blocks will address:

  • How the planet works. The interdependence of natural and human systems: interaction of atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, world cultures, economic and political systems.

  • Global environmental change. Atmosphere and oceans. The relationships between land cover and land use, population, and development. Political, economic and ethical consequences.
  • Resources, development and environmental degradation. Natural resources as the foundation of prosperity and human well-being. Agricultural and industrial development, social and environmental justice.

  • Energy. The science, technology, politics and economics of fossil fuels and alternative energy sources.

  • Globalisation, society and lifestyles. What are the impacts of global economic and technological change? What is sustainable development and is it achievable?

Structure

2 one-hour lectures per week plus six one-hour workgroups.

Assessment

1st Attempt:

  • For students who complete the coursework to a satisfactory standard: coursework, 100%.  These students will obtain exemption from the degree exam, and their coursework mark will provide the overall course CAS mark.

  • For students who do not obtain exemption from the degree exam: coursework, 50% plus exam, 50%.
    •  

    Resit: original coursework carried forward, 50%, plus exam, 50%.

    Formative Assessment

    The course includes a workgroup exercise on assessment of essays.  Students must sit a mock exam in-class.  However, with just 12 weeks, 6 workgroups and a degree exam exemption system that requires summative assessment of coursework, it is difficult to arrange stand-alone formative assessment.  It makes more sense to consider feedback/feedforward in terms of onwards progression: e.g., students write just  one coursework essay which is summatively assessed, but comments provided on this should help students to improve their performance next time: e.g., in the follow-up second half-session course.

    Feedback

    Students receive individual, written feedback on their coursework using standard  comments sheets. For the practical, we also provide whole-class feedback via WebCT.  This past year, we also put model answers/mark schemes for all coursework and the mock exams on WebCT to give students the chance to self-assess their own performance.