Natural Resources Management Course MOOC UiB

Description

Do you want to learn more about how to manage natural resources such as water reservoirs, fisheries, climate, and animal herds? And, do you want to learn about modern policies to deal with the tragedy of the commons? Sign up for the Free Online Natural Resources Management Course (GEO-SD660) at University of Bergen (Norway). Get detailed information at the University of Bergen site. Course Summary:

• While there exists much relevant knowledge about natural resources, they are frequently mismanaged, often with dramatic consequences for those involved.
• This course helps you build solid intuitive understanding of the theories and principles underlying natural resources. You develop the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed for proper management of for instance climate, water reservoirs, fisheries, and animal herds. You also learn how product and quota markets for natural resources work, and you get experience with modern policies to deal with the commons problem.
• The course has three chapters concerning resources management and two dealing with markets and policies to deal with commons problems. It utilizes a variety of online teaching tools including: animations, videos, quizzes, and interactive learning environments with simulators. Immediate feedback to quizzes helps students correct their understanding. Thus, the assignments make up an important part of the teaching material.
• The MOOC is 100 % online via the course platform Canvas. The course is taught in English, however you can activate automatic translations to other languages.

  Course Period* (*Dates subject to change, please see the University of Bergen site for updates):

• Spring Semesters: January 10 - June 10
• Fall Semesters: July 1 – December 20

• Erling Moxnes, System Dynamics Group

  Learning Outcomes:

• Express knowledge and understanding: students know about cause and effect relationships of importance for resource management and are able to express this knowledge in 'stock and flow diagrams'. They understand how cause and effect give rise to developments over time such as equilibrium, growth, goal seeking, cycles, and overshoots. They understand the basics of markets for products and quotas.
• Apply knowledge and understanding: students are able to apply knowledge and understanding to manage natural resources and to operate in markets for products and quotas.
• Make judgements: students know how to distinguish between resources and their specific needs for policies or management strategies. They know about implementation problems and the need to consider second best solutions.
• Communicate: students are aware of likely misperceptions. They can use analogies, narratives, and illuminating historical data to communicate. Based on their own experience with challenging management tasks, they understand the need for proper simplification.
• Develop learning skills: students develop learning skills to deal with dynamic problems. They know and can apply concepts such as stocks and flows, nonlinearity, feedback, delays, and policy in new situations.

 

• English
• Multiple other languages by the use of the Immersive Reader (written and spoken).

  Simulation Software:

• All provided for free as part of the course.

  Note:

• In the spring term 2024 the course is offered as a MOOC for self-study only. There is no exam and you will not earn any course credits. However, on the last page of the course, there is a certificate that you may print out and use for what it is worth. To reach the last page you have to go through the entire course, page by page, and assignment by assignment.
• If you are not able to finish the course within one semester, you can sign up again the next semester and start over again.
• There is an upper limit to the number of students. When the limit is reached, self-enrollment shuts down.

  Other Free Courses at UiB and by the EU-partnership universities:

• System Dynamics Modelling and Analysis
• UiB MOOC Portal