Unit name | Understanding global problems using data: inequality, climate change and the economy |
---|---|
Unit code | UNIV10008 |
Credit points | 20 |
Level of study | C/4 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
Unit director | Professor. Birdi |
Open unit status | Open |
Pre-requisites |
None |
Co-requisites |
None |
School/department | Centre for Innovation |
Faculty | Faculty of Arts |
A trailer is available for this unit here.
This unit introduces students to the global economy through practical work using global economic data. It develops key data analytical skills relevant to understanding and evaluating some government and local policies. The analysis emphasises three broad themes. These are:
The unit will develop core skills of data literacy, the representation of data, the distinction between causation and correlation, the use of natural experiments, survey and experimental data and other key aspects of a mature understanding of data.
The unit is based around group-based exercises that develop a familiarity with data handling and presentation through Excel. There are no pre-requisites for the unit as it is aimed at students with no prior experience in these areas.
This unit therefore aims to:
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:
The course will be pitched at students with little or no mathematical or data analysis background and introduces methods of understanding and analysing real world data related to important contemporary global issues.
The course will be taught in three "blocks" each devoted to one of the following themes: inequality, sustainability, and the global economy. Throughout the course, we will focus on both global problems and their manifestations within Bristol.
For each block a number of multimedia resources will be made available and students will be guided through these resources with help from tutors online. These resources may include videos, audio files, reading lists, spreadsheets, web references, data sets and other learning resources.
Students engage with these online resources and then participate in data analysis together with other students and staff during synchronous online workshops. For students unable to attend these sessions, there will be recordings made available and there are also online office hours each week.
Delivery of this unit is online.
1.Individual Assessment: Written Report (50%) [ILOs 1-5]
The individual assignment will be a written report of 5 A4 pages based on material from the course as a whole
2. Group project: Multimedia Resource (50%) [ILOs 1-5]
The group assignment involves students producing a short multimedia resource such as a video podcast, BBC style news article or a blog analysing material from blocks 1 and 2 of the course.
Some of the key assessment criteria for both assessments revolve around how students are able to communicate their analysis appropriately for a target audience (related to ILOs 4 and 5)
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. UNIV10008).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.