Syllabus Information

1. General information

1.1. Aims of the course

The expected results of the course respond to the following general aims:

• Acquire a global knowledge of the problems associated with the use of energy and materials and their socioeconomic implications.
• It should provide an ethical background of sustainability issues not covered in regular courses.
• Learn to make a good presentation and be able to defend a certain topic to a general audience.

1.2. Context and importance of this course in the degree

The subject is the starting point for understanding the current economic state of the energy sector and its environmental, social and political consequences. The course will offer students an overview of the energies that will serve as a decision tool for the subsequent choice of more in-depth studies of one or another energy technology alternative.

1.3. Recommendations to take this course

2. Learning goals

2.1. Competences

2.2. Learning goals

• Knowledge of the interactions between energy, development, the environmental impact of growth and economic needs. The world, European and national levels.
• Analyze current energy and material consumption and future trends; global and local impacts and social sustainability models associated with energy and material consumption.
• Critical analysis on the sustainability of the different energy and resource use models.

2.3. Importance of learning goals

The course will provide students with a critical view of the various options for resource savings and resource production. It will bring of alternative decision elements other than purely technical, including social, environmental, political and economic aspects.

3. Assessment (1st and 2nd call)

3.1. Assessment tasks (description of tasks, marking system and assessment criteria)

The student must demonstrate that he or she has achieved the intended learning outcomes through the following evaluation activities:

The final score involves the following:
1. (70%) Reading a book between the list provided. Extensive summary of the report and presentation.
2. (30%) work presentation of one of the following topics that will be provided throughout the course.

To pass the course , the student needs to get at least an average score of 5 and should not have obtained less than 4 in each of the asignments.

In case a student has not passed one or another part, it may do so in June or September with that part(s). The score of each part is saved only during the  academic year.

The summary of the book must have the following structure:

• Initial data with the book and authors page.
• Summary of about 8 pages.
• Critical analysis of the book.
• Additional information (optional).

4. Methodology, learning tasks, syllabus and resources

4.1. Methodological overview

The methodology followed in this course is oriented towards achievement of the learning objectives. It is a course open to discuss the current energy situation and the social, economic and technological impact of different energy alternatives and its associated problems. A wide range of teaching and learning tasks are implemented, such as:

• Lectures will be combined with videos, case studies and student presentations.
• The reading and presentation of a book in class, which encourages autonomous learning and critical thinking. Students can also develop additional skills, such as teamwork, oral and written expression, preparing powerpoint presentations, clear and organized presentations, proper time management, etc.
• The oral presentation of the book and the proposed topic will be held in class and evaluated in situ, promoting in this way the participation of all students. It will be assessed according to the following criteria:
  • Preparation
  • Organization
  • Slides
  • Presentation
  • Message
  • Impact
  • Time
  • Contents
  • Security

Students will learn from the mistakes that have been done by the previous groups, thereby improving their presentations.

Emphasis on the use of new information technologies (ICT) is made. The ADD constitutes the basic computer tool on which the course will be built. Content, additional information, forums and grades will be available at the virtual platform Moodle 2. It will also be the communication tool where topics and books will be assigned to students.

Teachers will therefore be a means for students to achieve learning of the course through a semi-autonomous way. Teachers will be available to students through tutorials. But through the ADD, and the forum, the students themselves can raise and solve doubts.

4.2. Learning tasks

The course includes the following learning tasks: 

• Lectures open to discussion
• Practical exercises
• Audiovisual and interactive material: Videos and software programs
• Student presentations in class
• Teamwork
• Role playing

4.3. Syllabus

The course will address the following topics:

1. Energy and sustainability
2. The real value of money
3. Climate change
4. The climate conference
5. The depletion of minerals
6. Alternative technologies
7. The energy efficiency laws
8. Industrial ecolog

4.4. Course planning and calendar

Further information concerning the timetable, classroom, assessment dates and other details regarding this course, will be provided on the first day of class or please refer to the EINA web page.