KA4001 - The Evolution of the Built Environment

You will learn this module through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical sessions, and independent learning.

Lectures will address both the history of the built environment, and academic and professional knowledge. Within the history of built environment, lectures will identify, reinforce and focus key issues, concepts and topics, related to commentary concerning significant buildings in Newcastle, where we will look at the history and development of these buildings. Lectures on academic and professional knowledge will be used to reinforce and focus key issues, concepts, techniques, tools and topics, in effect acting as a framework for understanding of academic skills and the roles of professional surveying practice. Lectures will be delivered by academic staff and industry and academic professionals.

Seminars and practical sessions will get you engaged with practical activities related to lecture content to help build your knowledge in an engaging and hands on way.

Lectures, seminars, and practical sessions will be supported by elements of directed reading and tutor guided on-line activities via the University’s eLearning Portal (eLP)/ Blackboard.

You will also be encouraged to conduct independent learning through self-study activities. The learning and teaching approaches adopted in this module will intend to commence the development of your ability to study independently and increase your capacity to be life-long learners.

You will receive academic support on this module mainly via formative feedback provided by the tutors during the seminars and workshops. You will be encouraged to ask questions and to take part in discussions during the seminars and workshops allowing your tutors to provide formative feedback to you for the exercises carried out in these sessions. Your peers will also be encouraged to support you by taking part in the discussions. You will also be supported by the provision of on-line resources via the module e-learning portal. These resources include lecture and seminar information, interactive reading list with on-line access to a number of key articles plus links to topical news reports. Teaching staff will also respond to individual questions via the module’s discussion board so that everyone taking the module can benefit. Furthermore, module teaching staff are responsive to communication via e-mail to support your learning.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
• MLO1: Explore how buildings and urban societies evolved from antiquity to the modern age, identifying differing architectural and constructional styles, developments in materials and technologies, along with how social and environmental sustainability affects our built environment.

• MLO2: You will demonstrate study skills including collecting and using appropriate information, referencing academic work and work planning.

• MLO3: You will demonstrate an awareness of the key focus of the student’s chosen professional programme area by producing a response to a brief that requires application and integration of knowledge gained.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
• MLO4: You will research and evaluate data, identify solutions, demonstrate judgement and communicate findings.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
• MLO5: You will develop an awareness of the cultural values behind the evolution and future development of the built environment. You will develop and apply a reflective approach to learning and personal development.

Summative Assessment: Your knowledge and comprehension of this module will be assessed by two elements, being:

Written Report (60%): A 1500 words or equivalent written report on the role of the surveyor, including the importance of the technical skills that will be taught on the module in performing this role. This will be an individual submission that will also require you to submit a reflective summary of skills and knowledge acquired on the task.. MLO2, MLO3, MLO4and MLO5.

Examination (40%): You will undertake an individual multiple-choice examination. This assessment will cover how buildings and urban societies evolved up to the modern age, the differing architectural and constructional styles, and the developments in materials, technologies and the challenges of environmental sustainability. MLO1, MLO4 and MLO5.

The portfolio will assess MLO1, MLO2, MLO3, MLO4 and MLO5, contributing to 100% of the overall module assessment.

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In ‘Evolution of the Built Environment’, you will be introduced to the built environment, it’s history and the role of surveying professions that work within it. From early classical civilisations up to today and into the future, urban settlements, and the built environment they represent have changed and will continue to change. Within this module you will learn about the influences enabling changes in building design and develop knowledge on the role of surveying discipline in surveying, describing, and/or analysing existing and new buildings. The module also aims to prepare you for other modules to be studied across level 4 of the programme and introduce you to a range of professional, academic and study skills essential to your success at university.

The assessment is a portfolio which contains an individually prepared written report and multiple-choice exam.

The delivery of the module will be by both academic staff, and industry and academic professionals, further supported by elements of independent learning and online activities via the university’s eLearning Platform (eLP)/Blackboard.. The knowledge and skills developed through this module will improve your surveying and academic attributes alongside the inter-personal soft skills, providing a foundation for future studies, and significantly enhancing future employability.

‘Evolution of the Built Environment’ will therefore help your understanding of (1) buildings in surveying practice, enabling you to see individual buildings in the wider city context, (2) how different surveying disciplines work and operate within the built environment, and (3) how you can you can use academic skills to communicate your ideas and responses within various individual and group assessments, and support your own learning, essential to your success at university.