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ESM403

Environmental Perception

  • Sciences
  • 400 level
  • 2 credit units
  • 129 pages
  • 16 units

This course explores environmental perception, focusing on the intricate relationship between humans and their surroundings. It covers components of the environment, environmental determinism and possibilism, and the impact of human activities on the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. The course also delves into the concept of perception, perceptual processes, and factors influencing environmental perception, as well as cognitive development and its role in environmental decision-making and resource management.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
100 hours
Maths
Basic
Content
Theoretical, case study
Practical work
No
How it is assessed
  • Assignments
  • Tutor marked assessments
  • Final examination

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

ESM403 · UNIT 1: COMPONENTS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The environment can be defined as all factors (living and non living) that actually affect an individual organism or population at any point in the life cycle (Botkin and Keller, 1998).

What you should be able to do

  1. Explain the components of the environment and their interactions.
  2. Analyze the relationship between humans and the environment.
  3. Evaluate the impacts of human activities on the environment.
  4. Understand the concept of perception and its role in environmental decision-making.
  5. Apply cognitive development theories to environmental issues.
  6. Assess the potential of renewable energy sources.

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Environmental Manager
  • Sustainability Officer
  • Environmental Policy Analyst
  • Resource Manager
Where it is applied
  • Environmental Management
  • Renewable Energy
  • Waste Management
  • Urban Planning
  • Agriculture

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module III

    Unit 3: Perception and Environmental Resource Management

    Requires understanding of complex systems and interrelationships between human actions and environmental outcomes.

  • Module III

    Unit 4: Waste Perception and Management

    Requires understanding of various waste management techniques and their environmental impacts.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 67 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: Components of the Environment
    • Unit 1: Components of the Environment · 3 hours

      Read introduction and objectives.. Study the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

    • Unit 2: Man-Environment Relationship · 2 hours

      Define environmental determinism and possibilism.. Analyze man-environment relationship.. Complete tutor-marked assignment..

  2. Week 2Module 1: Components of the Environment
    • Unit 3: Man and the Lithosphere · 3 hours

      Study effects of agriculture, mineral exploration, and urbanization.. Analyze impacts on the lithosphere.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

    • Unit 4: Man and the Hydrosphere · 2 hours

      Examine water pollution and depletion of freshwater resources.. Analyze man's activities affecting the hydrosphere.. Complete tutor-marked assignment..

  3. Week 3Module 1: Components of the Environment
    • Unit 5: Man and the Atmosphere · 5 hours

      Study atmospheric pollution, global warming, and ozone depletion.. Analyze man's impact on the atmosphere.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

  4. Week 4Module 11:
    • Unit 1: The Concept of Perception · 3 hours

      Define perception and its nature.. Study sensory systems of perception.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

    • Unit 2: Perceptual Process · 2 hours

      Define perceptual process.. Analyze steps in the perceptual process.. Complete tutor-marked assignment..

  5. Week 5Module 11:
    • Unit 3: Factors Affecting Perception · 3 hours

      Study internal and external factors affecting perception.. Analyze how these factors influence perception.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

    • Unit 4: The Objective and Perceived Environment · 2 hours

      Distinguish between objective and perceived environment.. Examine the relationship between them.. Complete tutor-marked assignment..

  6. Week 6Module 11:
    • Unit 5: Perception and Formation of Environmental Images · 5 hours

      Define cognition.. Explain factors influencing the formation of environmental images.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

  7. Week 7Module III
    • Unit 1: Cognitive Development · 5 hours

      Examine the process of cognitive development.. Study Piaget's theory.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

  8. Week 8Module III
    • Unit 2: Environmental Perception and Decision Making · 5 hours

      Define environmental perception.. Examine its role in decision making.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

  9. Week 9Module III
    • Unit 3: Perception and Environmental Resource Management · 5 hours

      Define resource management.. Study how perception affects environmental resource management.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

  10. Week 10Module III
    • Unit 4: Waste Perception and Management · 5 hours

      Understand early and modern trends in waste perception and management.. Study the relationship between perception and waste management techniques.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

  11. Week 11Module III
    • Unit 5: Environment Perception and Renewable Alternative Energy Sources · 5 hours

      List major sources of energy supply.. Assess the impact of solar, wind, water, and biomass energy on the environment.. Complete self-assessment exercise..

  12. Week 12Revision
    • TMA Review and Preparation · 6 hours

      Review all tutor marked assignments.. Focus on areas of weakness.. Prepare notes for revision..

  13. Week 13Revision
    • Final Revision · 6 hours

      Final revision of course materials.. Practice answering past questions.. Consult course facilitator for clarifications..

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Review all module objectives and summaries.
  • Create concept maps linking key topics from each unit.
  • Practice applying theoretical concepts to real-world environmental problems.
  • Focus on understanding the different approaches to environmental resource management.
  • Pay close attention to the environmental impacts of various human activities.
  • Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and address any areas of weakness.
  • Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final examination.
  • Practice answering past examination questions under timed conditions.
  • Form study groups to discuss and clarify complex concepts with peers.
  • Consult the course facilitator for clarification on any challenging topics before the examination.
  • Ensure a thorough understanding of key definitions and concepts related to environmental perception and cognitive development.
  • Focus on understanding the different types of renewable energy sources and their environmental impacts.
  • Create flashcards for key terms and concepts to aid memorization.

Questions students ask about this course

What is ESM403 about?

This course explores environmental perception, focusing on the intricate relationship between humans and their surroundings. It covers components of the environment, environmental determinism and possibilism, and the impact of human activities on the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. The course also delves into the concept of perception, perceptual processes, and factors influencing environmental perception, as well as cognitive development and its role in environmental decision-making and resource management.

How many units does ESM403 have?

ESM403, Environmental Perception, has 16 units across 3 modules, over 129 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is ESM403?

ESM403 carries 2 credit units, at 400 level in Sciences.

Is ESM403 hard?

ESM403 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and case study work.

How long does ESM403 take to study?

About 100 hours of study, spread across its 16 units.

How is ESM403 assessed?

ESM403 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with ESM403?

Environmental Consultant, Environmental Manager, Sustainability Officer, Environmental Policy Analyst and Resource Manager.

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