Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Dr. Andrew Burridge
Contact via andrew.burridge@mq.edu.au
W3A 435
Thursday 4-6pm or by appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
4
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MEnvEd or MEngMgt or MEnvMgt or MEnvStud or MPlan or GradCertEnvPlan or MEnvPlan or MSusDev or MPH or MWldMgt or MEnv or GradDipEnv or GradCertSusDev or GradDipSusDev or GradCertSIA or GradDipSIA or GradCertEnvPlan or MConsBiol or GradDipConsBiol or MDevStud or MPPPMDevStud or MPASRMDevStud or MSc in Remote Sensing and GIS
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines the social, economic and environmental challenges associated with developing sustainable cities and urban regions internationally. Opportunities and barriers to implementing more sustainable urban management and planning practices are explored. Students undertake their own case study; critically assessing response strategies and developing their own sustainability plans.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Detailed requirements and marking rubrics for each assessment are available from the iLearn site. All individual written assignments should be submitted online to Turnitin via the relevant links provided in iLearn. You are not required to submit a hardcopy of any assignments or include a cover sheet.
Circumstances that affect your ability to complete assignments by the deadline must be discussed with the convenor (Andrew) prior to the due date. Extensions will be granted only in unforeseen or exceptional circumstances according to the University Special Consideration policy. Students must apply online via AskMQ and provide appropriate supporting documentation (e.g. medical certificate).
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline.
All feedback for assignments will be made available online. The grade will be in the form of a letter as consistent with University policy (HD, D, Cr, P, F) alongside written feedback. Assessment feedback will be returned within 3 weeks.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Patterns of Urbanisation | 15% | No | 16 August 2018 5:00pm |
Group Presentation | 15% | No | Week 4-13 |
Assessment of City Plans | 25% | No | 13 September 2018 5:00pm |
Major Essay | 35% | No | 8 November 2018 5:00pm |
Workshop Participation | 10% | No | Week 2-13 |
Due: 16 August 2018 5:00pm
Weighting: 15%
Report on urbanisation patterns in two continents based on UN data. 1000 words plus maps, graphs, and tables.
Understanding urbanisation patterns and prospects are the key to planning sustainable cities. For this first assessment task you are required to prepare a short report on urbanisation trends between 1970 and 2050 for two continents. More guidance, including marking criteria, will be given in Week 1 and made available on iLearn.
Due: Week 4-13
Weighting: 15%
Throughout the semester you are introduced to a range of contemporary topics that are connected to the sustainability of cities and regions. In this assignment, you will work with other classmates to develop a group presentation that demonstrates your understanding and ability to communicate one of the topics by analysing relevant concepts and incorporating real life local or international example(s). You are welcome to choose from the list of weekly topics that interest your group (topics are given below). Groups will be assigned during Week 2 workshop. Selection of topic will be on first come first served basis. You are encouraged to be creative in your presentation and are welcome to use unconventional presentation techniques such as debates, role plays, audience interaction, skits etc.
Group presentation guidelines:
Further details will be made available during class and through iLearn.
Suggested topics: non-humans in the city, urban underground, smart cities, migration and cities, shared dwelling, resilient cities, housing affordability, public transport, green infrastructure, zero-carbon city, active travel and shared mobility
Due: 13 September 2018 5:00pm
Weighting: 25%
The goal here is to critically assess the content and approach of city-wide sustainability plans.
You will produce a written report of 1500 words, including references.
Throughout the first half of the semester, you will be introduced to a number of different cities as case study examples. Use these discussions, and your wider reading, to help you choose a city outside Australia. You should then collate and analyse sustainability plans for that city. The individual report you produce should include:
Tips for Assessment of City Plans:
Include an executive summary, introduction, a body (main argument) and a conclusion (answer the question).
Consider the use of tables and diagrams to summarise your information.
Comply with the word count and condense your work to present a concise argument.
Due: 8 November 2018 5:00pm
Weighting: 35%
Topic: Smart Cities
You have been introduced to the concept of smart cities in Week 3 lecture. Throughout the Unit, you have been introduced to different concepts and issues related to technology, non-humans, mobility and shared economy. These concepts push us to find new sustainable practice to build on smart cities. Especially, technology and shared/alternate/diverse economy have converged to produce a number of new forms of mobilities and urban living.
For this essay, you should not limit yourself to the unit lecture contents only. In addition, you are expected to conduct a reasonable amount of literature review that requires a critical analysis of a series of scholarly articles to answer the question:
"What are the sustainability potential and planning implications of technology and/or other disruptive forms of smart practice in cities?"
You are not expected to conduct primary research for this essay. Rather, you are to use academic and grey literature (produced by organizations outside the traditional academic publishing channels) to build your argument.
The reference list available via iLearn is a starting point, though additional references will also be expected.
Submissions requirements:
Word length: 2500 words (excluding references)
Submit via iLearn using the Turnitin link. Penalties will apply in case of late submissions.
Style: essay, no less than 1.5 line spacing and no smaller than 11pt font.
References: ensure you reference your work. See: http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/undergraduate/academic_skills_quick guides/
You will need to reference approximately 15 academic sources (for example, articles, chapters in edited collections and books).
Reference List - available via iLearn
Due: Week 2-13
Weighting: 10%
Task: Attend all workshops, read the assigned readings, present one of them if requested and involve in discussions.
Attendance will be recorded for all workshop sessions. If you attend less than 80% of the workshop sessions, marks will be deducted. For each week’s workshop, you need to read the two assigned readings, which are the basis of group discussions and other activities. The readings will be posted on the Unit's iLean site. Be prepared to present one of them to the class if called on by the workshop facilitator. In each week’s tutorial, two people will be selected randomly to present a brief (5 minutes) summary of one of the assigned readings and to facilitate a class discussion. You will not be allowed to use Microsoft Powerpoint or any other electronic presentation tools, but you will be allowed to use the whiteboard or any other props if you wish. Students giving group presentations in the same week are exempted from presenting the readings summary; however, they must participate in the discussion.
Your performance will be assessed using a marking sheet that indicates the strength of your contributions either through presenting readings summary or participating in discussions. All students will be expected to participate in the discussion of the readings.
Classes
Classes are held on Thursdays commencing at 6:00pm and concluding at 9:00pm (in Week 1 and Week 13 class may finish earlier). GEOP830 is available in both internal and external mode; for those enrolled internally attending classes is necessary to maximise the learning outcomes. Workshops will consist of both lectures and a variety of learning activities spread over the three hour block.
Workload Expectation
It is generally expected that students will commit at least 3 hours per week per credit point in their studies. Thus, in addition to attending weekly classes for 3 hours, students are expected to complete appropriate reading, research and other activities equivalent to at least 9 hours per week. Thus the total workload for this unit should be considered as a minimum of 12 hours per week throughout the semester.
Technology
GEOP830 makes extensive use of iLearn for both resources and assessment. Resources for weekly workshops, readings, blog questions are on iLearn, as well as readings for assignments. Turnitin will be used for submitted assignments. Access to the internet and regular access to the unit’s website is essential for GEOP830.
Date | Lecture | Workshop topics | Submission of assessments |
2 August | Introduction: Welcome and Sustainable cities in the 21st century | Overview of Assessments, Learning Activities and using data | |
9 August | The ecological potential of cities and regions (guest lecture: Dr. Donna Houston, Macquarie University) |
Multi-species urban imagination Assignment preparation: Patterns of urbanisation |
Formation of Groups and selection of Presentation Topics |
16 August | Volumetric City: subterranean geographies of soil and water (guest lecture: TBC) | Urban imagination beyond the 'surface bias' |
Patterns of urbanisation due 16 August 5:00pm |
23 August | Concepts of Smart Cities (guest lecture: TBC) |
What is meant for cities to be 'smart'? Assignment preparation: Assessment of city plans |
Group Presentation on selected topic |
30 August | Mobility of populations in cities and regions (guest lecture: TBC) | Migration and cities | Group Presentation on selected topic |
6 September | Cities, tourism and the sharing economy (guest lecture: TBC) | The implication of Airbnb in cities | Group Presentation on selected topic |
13 September | Urban resilience (guest lecture: TBC) |
What is meant for cities to be 'resilient'?
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Group Presentation on selected topic Assessment of City Plans due 13 September 5:00pm |
17-28 | SEPTEMBER | NO CLASSES | |
4 October | Geopolitics of real-estate and cities (guest lecture: TBC) |
Urban sprawling and housing affordability Assignment preparation: Major essay |
Group Presentation on selected topic |
11 October | Mobility in smart cities (guest lecture: TBC) | Active travel, transport sharing | Group Presentation on selected topic |
18 October | Cities, justice and urban gardening (guest lecture: Richard Carter-White, Macquarie University) | Urban environmental justice, ecological footprint | Group Presentation on selected topic |
25 October |
Security and climate change (guest lecture: Richard Carter-White, Macquarie University) |
Security, climate change, states of exception |
Group Presentation on selected topic |
1 November | Smart and sustainable urban region, wrap-up |
Follow-up assignment preparation: Major essay |
Group Presentation on selected topic Major Essay due 8 November 5:00pm |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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This graduate capability is supported by:
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