Learning objectives
The objectives are structured around the axis learning-comprehension, in the understanding that there is no comprehension without learning. In this framework the effort is produced during lessons and class-work. Lesson, in particular, are structured and organized to make understanding more accessible through:
1. the use of electronic material (ppt. presentations) that reproduce in an intelligible way dynamics, graphs, matrices, flow-charts, that are essential to explain procedures, models, logic behind the concepts;
2. practical examples in which theoretical concepts are applied in real context of assessment (applied learning and understanding); in this part the student are requested to make their own assessment on a real case, to challenge what they have learned in the lessons as for legislative issues, knowledge about environmental issues involved; assessment methodologies.
Independence of judgment is crucial for a discipline like the one taught in the course, where uncertainty about assessment is the rule rather than the exception. In this framework major effort is dedicated to teach:
1. methods to decide in the presence of uncertainty;
3. methods to analyze results obtained from alternative methods/models and identify robust results.
Communication skill is built up mainly through class presentations of the various topics but also during class exercise in which the students are requested to express their point of view in simulations of the conflict-negotiation dynamics.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
Thios course is made of two modules. The first focuses upon environmental impact and strategic environmental assessment. The second provide a broader view of the methods for environmental evaluation and focuses on indices, indicators, indices, methods for territorial investigation, copartive eveluations.
Full programme
see the program specified in the module pages.
Bibliography
given in each single module.
Teaching methods
Lecturing about:
1. methodological issues of evaluation procrsses;
2. interpreting the outcomes produced in environmental analysis;
3. methods to decide under uncertainty conditions.
Lectures are supported by class exercise to simulate decision making under uncertainty conditions.
Assessment methods and criteria
Oral presentation of a case study. Aim of the presentation is to make clear the level of learning and understanding reached by the student in his effort to critically highlight the differences and similarities between the case study and the theory that has been taught during the course. In this phase also the communicative skills and the applied knowledge are evaluated. In particular this latter depends on the capability that the student may show in providing suggestions to revise the document. In the second part the minimum requirements that the student is asked to fulfill is the ability to logically concatenate issues, to show his skill in developing a predictive model given certain ecological constraints, to critically analyze the outcomes of the model and the levels of uncertainty that can be associated to such outcomes. The overall evaluation is the average of the scores obtained in the two parts.
Other information
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