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2014/15 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

GEOG3130 Alternative Urban Futures

20 creditsClass Size: 100

Module manager: Dr Paul Chatterton
Email: p.chatterton@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2014/15

Module replaces

GEOG3920 Autonomous Geographies Sustainable Futures

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module explores the different kinds of alternative futures urban areas face. It looks at key challenges such as climate change, financial austerity and social and spatial justice. It frames urban futures through a number of key debates around crisis, obstacles and strategies for transformation. Case studies and guest speakers are interweaved with lectures, seminars and practical skills base sessions.

Objectives

By the end of this module students who have engaged well with the syllabus should be able to:
1. display an informed understanding of processes ecological, social and political change at an urban level;
2. engage with different future scenarios for urban areas;
3. demonstrate an awareness of the multi-faceted nature of urban change and future urban scenarios and alternatives in practice;
4. use academic, journalistic and electronic information sources to inform their critical analysis of processes of urban change;
5. express their understanding in written and oral forms.
6. demonstrate an ability to apply understandings of possible alternatives through practice based work

Learning outcomes
Contemporary debates about future thinking and scenario modelling
Detailed understandings of different pathways based on complex socio-political choices based on key themes such as technology, the nation state, social movements and relocalisation
Explorations of alternatives in practice in different geographical contexts including food, energy, housing work and land
Use of transition skills around mapping, decision making and public scholarship.

Skills outcomes
Cognitive skills
Abstraction and synthesis of information from a variety of sources
Assessment and critical evaluation of the merits of contrasting theories, explanations, policies
Critical analysis and interpretation of data and text
Developing reasoned arguments

Practical/professional skills
Plan, design, execute and report geographical research
Collect, interpret and synthesise different types of qualitative geographical data
Recognise the ethical issues involved in geographical debates and enquiries
Relate concepts to practice through engaged enquiry.

Key skills
Learn in familiar and unfamiliar situations
Communicate effectively (in writing, verbally and through graphical presentations)
Use information technology effectively (including use of spreadsheet, database and word processing programmes; Internet and e-mail)
Identify, retrieve, sort and exchange geographical information using a wide range of sources
Work as part of a team and to recognise and respect the viewpoints of others
Manage time and organise work effectively.

Syllabus

Unit 1 concepts
The world as it is: Capitalism
Terrains of Transformation.
Obstacles to emancipatory transformation
strategies of transformation

UNIT TWO: Alternatives Into Practice
Energy and Mobility
Cooperative Housing
Food Sovereignty
Worker’s Cooperatives

UNIT THREE: Practice based design skills
Collaboration Skills
Engagement Skills
Thinking Skills
Planning Skills
Communication Skills

UNIT FOUR: practice based design project

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Meetings	4	1.00	4.00
Independent Learning	4	2.00	8.00
Lecture	15	1.00	15.00
Practical	5	2.00	10.00
Seminar	4	1.00	4.00
Seminar	4	2.00	8.00
Private study hours			151.00
Total Contact hours			49.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

- 46 hours reading to support individual lectures and to prepare for seminars, workshops
- 20 hours reading, bibliographical research and preparation for critical debate
- 40 hours reading, bibliographical research and preparation for PBI group project
- 45 hours reading, bibliographical research and preparation for assessed essay

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Through 3 forms of assessment spread over 2 semesters.
The critical debate is set in early semester one and feedback is given before the end of semester one. This will provide early feedback to students on writing skills

The essay is set in mid semester 1 and is due in at the beginning of semester 2.

The group report is set in sem 2 and is handed in before the easter vacation and thus further feedback will be given on further writing skills mid semester 2.
The PBI report is handed in at the end of sem 2 to give final formal feedback on group writing skills.

The PBI sessions in weeks 20-24 provide regular check ins with the module convenor on progress of the Practice based enquiry.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	2,500 words	50.00
Practical	Practice based enquiry group report (in groups of 5) 1,500 words per student	30.00
Critique	Critical summary of debate - 1,000 words	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 27/04/2015

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