Overview
The objective of this assignment is to deepen your conceptual understanding of resilience as it has been applied in multiple contexts. We will do this by finding multiple examples that either operationalize or conceptually interrogate the concept of resilience. Given the myriad contexts in which this concept has been applied, you are encouraged to include at least two different sectors or settings in your research and reflection. Examples of sectors and settings include: infrastructure, buildings, community-level, ecosystems, energy system, institution, city, First Nation, and the like.
Developing an understanding of how resilience is operationalized across sectors, as well as its relationship to reconciliation efforts, will lead to a more holistic understanding of this broad concept that can be applied in your own work in the course and afterwards.
Instructions
- Read two of the unit 1 course readings, and two sources that you find on your own that are related to resilience. At least one should be a scholarly, peer reviewed source. You may need to use an additional source to articulate the concept of reconciliation.
- From the notes you’ve taken, describe your personalized understanding of resilience, and make a connection to its applicability in climate action.
- Include in your critique a consideration of the advantages and limitations of the concept, as well as a discussion of if and/or how the concept serves to create conditions for equitable planning, reconciliation and the like.
- As part of you participation grade, please share your work with the class in the Moodle discussion forum and provide constructive feedback for two of your peer’s syntheses. Review Writing Centre resources and those provided by the instructor to better understand and shape your feedback as constructive.
Requirements
- Original synthesis – maximum word count is 700
- Your essay must be submitted as a Word document and must conform to currently accepted APA standards for formatting.
- The feedback you offer your peers can vary but remember to make it specific, constructive, and focused on things that can be changed and improved.
- The assignment must be submitted on or before the due date, with the feedback for your peers following soon after.
Associated Learning Outcomes
- Examine the role of reconciliation as a component of climate adaptation and low carbon resilience (Learning Outcome 1.3)
- Integrate contributions (ideas and actions) from multiple disciplines to generate new ideas and concepts and to support recommendations, strategies, and solutions (Learning Outcome 2.3)
- Facilitate multi- and trans-disciplinary discussions and collaboration (Learning Outcome 4.3)
- Apply transdisciplinary thinking to complex climate-related problems and issues (Learning Outcome 2.4)
Assessment
In addition to the learning outcomes, assessment criteria will be based on the Academic Paper/report Assessment Rubric found found on the MACAL program website under Program Resources, Assessment.
Weight: 15%