Evaluation

Student feedback on the module:

"The implementation project was a thoroughly pleasing module to study and offered me as a student coursework that I actually found interesting and more importantly practical. With some modules of the Town & Country planning course you sometimes wonder about the relevance it actually has within the working world? However this module engaged me from the word go, and in my opinion confirmed that I had made the right choice when choosing to study Town & Country planning at University.

Another positive point about the module was the fact it offered an ample opportunity for both group and individual study and therefore gave everyone a chance to exercise their own personal strengths.

As a student who elected to use the AutoCAD system, I personally found it initially daunting to use with very little in the way of progress in the first couple of weeks. However, with the excellent support we received from both the lectures and the technicians, I managed to reach the top of this steep learning curve and produce a piece of work in which I am very proud.

Possible recommendations for this module from me personally, would be to perhaps work with a member of the landscape course at the start of the map production process. This way we could learn about their ideas and requirements, and we as Planners could specify our own demands thus creating a two-way learning process. By working in a multi-discipline group from the start, I believe an improved learning environment would be created and it would give us a greater awareness of what it is like working with a closely related profession in the real world.

One final point in regards to the steep learning curve encountered, would be the duration in which the project had to be compiled. I feel that despite working on the map production for several days of the week, the deadline we had to work to was extremely tight. I believe that the all round standard of the work submitted by everyone in the class would have been considerably better if we were granted maybe an extra week or two. Or we perhaps started the project after a little more AutoCAD training, instead of taking the training time out of the allocated coursework timescale.

All in all though no real complaints, excellent! I look forward to more of the same next year."

Steven Louth. B.A. (Hons) Town and Country Planning (Year 3)

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"After completing this module it has enabled me to look back and realise that I have acquired certain beneficial skills. Within this statement on my thoughts of the implementation project overall, it has given me the opportunity to indicate the positive and negative points I've encountered whilst working on this module.

Firstly, the change of how the module was structured was not only interesting, but at the same time challenging. It meant that within this project the usual module assessment structure had changed, which usually consists of two essays or an essay and exam to provide a mark for the module. However within the implementation project these boundaries had changed, to bring in an alternative structure (presentations, development brief, planning application form, supporting statement & computer generated map) that offered the ability to use new software (AutoCAD), to be beneficial not only in future university work but also within the working environment of planning.

Although the learning curve of using AutoCAD was quite steep, the end result was very rewarding and added to the overall benefits and enjoyment completing this module produced.

The lecturing partnership between Norman Stothers and Sue Manns, was also different, in the fact that they were able to combine their talents and produce a module that was not only educationally rewarding, but was also challenging and inspiring to be learning something completely different.

To be honest, I cannot actually identify any overwhelming negative points to this module. The only aspect I could really draw attention to is that with the presentations we had the ability to discuss ideas with landscape architects for the proposed development. However, during the preparation of the map using AutoCAD this was lost, and it was up to us as future planners to try and identify the needs of everyone to cover all aspects. The only real recommendation is to try and keep the link with landscape architects throughout the module, if not just for valuable advice, but also to try and achieve a development that meets the requirements of all concerned.

Through the completion of this module, I feel that I have acquired valuable knowledge and experience that will provide me with a solid foundation to support me throughout any future employment that relates to this field."

Douglas Eardley. B.A. (Hons) Town and Country Planning (Year 3)

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Feedback from the external examiner:

"As an External Examiner, I reviewed the Implementation Project undertaken by year 3 undergraduate students in the Faculty of the Environment at UCE as part of my examining duties in 2001/02. The students demonstrated the software and presented their work with obvious pride and confidence. The quality of the student output was outstanding and it was clear that students had performed well beyond themselves. This IT based unit is at the cutting edge of teaching and learning in planning, development and design and has managed to engage a very broad cross section of students, who traditionally may have struggled with these issues. The content of the unit, the innovative method of delivery and student centred approach to learning, clearly challenged students to extend their knowledge and skills in all aspects of site development and layout. Student motivation was high, which resulted in maximum student effort, together with significant levels of independent learning comparable to other units. Innovative teaching and learning strategies on the Implementation project serves to provide a template of best practice for teaching in this field and wherever possible key lessons should be transferred to other related knowledge areas."

Christine Booth, External Examiner, Sheffield Hallam University

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Feedback from the lecturer:

"The delivery and success of this project has been made possible and enhanced by a fortunate concatenation of circumstances. The project team had access to the OS Land Line base maps through Digimap, purpose-built training/project computer suites, high level computer software for CAD and GIS, high quality output and the support of trained technical support staff. This synergy between the facilities, technical support and academic delivery combined with the enthusiasm of the students allowed a seamless and holistic learning experience to be developed to the benefit of students and staff.

We intend to develop this project in the future to include, for example, presentations of the proposals to the community utilising 3D visualisation.

The Built Environment profession needs staff with an ability to apply CAD and GIS skills in practice. The project provided the students with an opportunity to learn and apply these skills through a stimulating experience for both staff and students."

Norman Stothers