Reinhold Castensson

PBL from the teachers' perspective

The background of the project ’Problem Based Learning in Environmental Sciences was a dissatisfaction with the lack of inspiring connections between current research and undergraduate education. The PBL approach was adopted in order to raise the level of activity in undergraduate learning. Another reason was the emphasis on problem orientation in PBL which includes an important proportion of interdisciplinarity in finding appropriate solutions to environmental problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation of PBL in environmental education from the teachers perspective. Seven teachers were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and subject to a qualitative analysis. The teachers were in general positive to continue to work with the PBL program. They appreciated the closer contact with the students. Difficulties experienced comprise a lack of consensus amongst the teachers and lack of time for discussion and planning during the project. The teachers conceived of the essence of PBL either from a learning perspective or a teaching perspective. Characteristic of the learning perspective is a focus on the students learning process, while in the teaching perspective focus is on the methodological teaching aspects of PBL. There were also two different perspectives on the teachers role as a tutor in PBL, that are categorised either as a supportive role or a directive role. Characteristic of the supportive role is an integrated view of the tutors role. The students activity, responsibility and influence on the education was emphasised. The supportive tutors role was mainly focusing the group process. The directive tutors role were characterised by a restricted view or uncertainty of the teachers role in PBL. The different ways of conceiving PBL may explain some of the experienced difficulties amongst the teachers.The background of the project ’Problem Based Learning in Environmental Sciences was a dissatisfaction with the lack of inspiring connections between current research and undergraduate education. The PBL approach was adopted in order to raise the level of activity in undergraduate learning. Another reason was the emphasis on problem orientation in PBL which includes an important proportion of interdisciplinarity in finding appropriate solutions to environmental problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation of PBL in environmental education from the teachers perspective. Seven teachers were interviewed. The interviews were transcribed and subject to a qualitative analysis. The teachers were in general positive to continue to work with the PBL program. They appreciated the closer contact with the students. Difficulties experienced comprise a lack of consensus amongst the teachers and lack of time for discussion and planning during the project. The teachers conceived of the essence of PBL either from a learning perspective or a teaching perspective. Characteristic of the learning perspective is a focus on the students learning process, while in the teaching perspective focus is on the methodological teaching aspects of PBL. There were also two different perspectives on the teachers role as a tutor in PBL, that are categorised either as a supportive role or a directive role. Characteristic of the supportive role is an integrated view of the tutors role. The students activity, responsibility and influence on the education was emphasised. The supportive tutors role was mainly focusing the group process. The directive tutors role were characterised by a restricted view or uncertainty of the teachers role in PBL. The different ways of conceiving PBL may explain some of the experienced difficulties amongst the teachers.

A GIS method to aid in non-point source critical area analysis

Abstract The use of remote sensing techniques, image processing, computer mapping and overlays to make inventories of land use and to improve land and water management has increasing potential. Advantages of these techniques include greater geometric resolution and potential time and money savings. The increasing capabilities of personal computers and workstations (hardware and software) and the greater availability of databases have simplified the application of these techniques. In this application, a geographical information system (GIS) was used to facilitate the identification of critical non-point source areas of pollution by sediment-related nutrients. This critical source area information might then be used to aid in the development of non-point source control strategies or for monitoring programme design. This study shows the potential of using GIS in selecting critical source areas for sediment-related water quality problems and land resource protection.

An Actor Game on Implementation of Environmental Quality Standards for Nitrogen in a Swedish Agricultural Catchment

Despite political efforts, diffuse pollution from agriculture continues to be the single largest source of nitrogen (N) emissions into the aquatic environment in many countries and regions. This fact, and the recent enactment of a new Swedish environmental code, led to the design of a study targeted at the evaluation of new N pollution abatement strategies. An actor game was chosen as the key component of the study, with a focus on four major goals: to test the implementability of legally binding environmental quality standards for nitrate concentration in groundwater and N transport to the sea, to find sets of agriculturally feasible and cost-effective measures to decrease N loads, to investigate the possibilities for collective action through negotiated and institutionalized actor cooperation, and to investigate the role of mathematical modeling in environmental N management. Characteristics from the agriculturally dominated catchment of Genevadsån (224 km2) on the southwest coast of Sweden served as the playing field for the actor game. The most noteworthy result from the study was that it appeared to be possible to meet ambitious environmental N standards with less economically drastic measures than anticipated by most of the participants. The actor game was shown to be a good method for learning about the new Swedish environmental code and its application and for gaining deeper insight into the issues of N management. In addition, the actor game functioned as an arena for gaining a more thorough understanding of the views of different stakeholders.

Non-point source water pollution management: Improving decision-making information through water quality monitoring*

The identification, assessment and management of non-point source water pollution problems can be improved through better water quality monitoring program designs. The result is often more useful and reliable information for use by decision-makers. In this study of the Svart River Basin in south-central Sweden, the results of a modified monitoring program, designed to address non-point source inputs, were compared with the results of the ongoing program. Cost, validity (addressing intended objectives) and reliability (estimated level of uncertainty) were the criteria used to evaluate and compare the design and results obtained from the two programs. The study showed that choices of variables measured, station location and sampling frequency have a direct influence on the type and value of information obtained, especially when considering non-point sources. For a similar cost, the modified program produced more valid and reliable information for decision-making than the ongoing program.

Urban Water Resources Supply Conflicts

Urban water resources supply conflicts are closely related to the worldwide resettlement in urban agglomerations. This trend toward resettlement in urban areas coupled with increased demands for higher sanitation standards results in rapid increases in the total and per capita amount of urban water resource use.

Geographic Information Systems and Their Socioeconomic Applications

List of Figures Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Geographic Information Systems 1.2 Socioeconomic Data 1.3 Structure of Work Chapter 2: The Development of GIS 2.1 Overview 2.2 Computer Systems 2.3 Information Systems 2.4 Computer-Aided Cartography 2.5 Image Processing 2.6 Contemporary GIS 2.7 Summary Chapter 3: GIS Applications 3.1 Overview 3.2 Natural Environment 3.3 Built Environemnt 3.4 Handling Socioeconomic Data 3.4.1 Dime and Tiger 3.4.2 Census Mapping Systems 3.4.3 Geodemography 3.5 Summary Chapter 4: GIS Theory 4.1 Overview 4.2 Geographic Objects 4.3 Analog and Digital Maps 4.4 Theoretical Models of GIS 4.4.1 Components of GIS 4.4.2 Fundamental Operations of GIS 4.5 A Theoretical Framework for GIS 4.5.1 The Ecological Fallacy 4.5.2 The Modifiable Areal Unit Problem 4.6 The Representation of Geographic Data 4.7 Summary Chapter 5: Data Collection and Input 5.1 Overview 5.2 Data Collection 5.2.1 Census Data 5.2.2 Postcode-Based Data 5.2.3 Data From Surveys and Customer Lists 5.2.4 Data From Remote Sensing 5.2.5 The Data Collection Transformation 5.3 Data Input 5.3.1 Vector Digitizing 5.3.2 Verification 5.3.3 Attribute Data Input 5.3.4 Raster Data Input 5.3.5 The Data Input Transformation 5.4 Summary Chapter 6: Data Storage 6.1 Overview 6.2 Vector Data Storage 6.3 Attribute Data Storage 6.4 Object-orientated Data Structures 6.5 Raster Data Storage 6.6 Triangulated Irregular Networks 6.7 Summary Chapter 7: Data Manipulation 7.1 Overview 7.2 Vector Data Manipulation 7.3 Raster Data Manipulation 7.4 Data Conversion 7.5 Data Interpolation 7.5.1 Point-Based Interpolation 7.5.2 Area-Based Interpolation 7.5.3 Boundary Interpolation 7.5.4 Surface Generation From Centoid Data 7.6 Summary Chapter 8: Data Output and Display 8.1 Overview 8.2 Data Display 8.2.1 Display Technology 8.2.2 Display Standards 8.3 Data Transfer 8.3.1 Transfer Technology 8.3.2 Transfer Standards 8.4 Summary Chapter 9: Towards a Socioeconomic GIS 9.1 Overview 9.2 Information Systems Approaches 9.3 Individual-Level 9.4 Geographic Aggregation 9.4.1 Vector-Based Approaches 9.4.2 Raster-Based Approaches 9.5 Modelled Representations 9.5.1 Concept 9.5.2 Implementation 9.6 Summary Chapter 10: Conclusion 10.1 Geographic Information Systems... 10.2 .. . And Their Socioeconomic Applications Glossary of Commonly Used GIS Terms and Acronyms Bibliography Index.

The Transfer of Technology from Great Britain to Sweden 1825–1850: —a study of the international diffusion of machine technology

During the first half of the nineteenth century presumptive Swedish manufacturers were eager to obtain new industrial technology, and they sought to import tools and machinery from the industrialized countries of Europe. The authors have traced the import of machine-tools to Sweden during the years 1825 to 1850, and mapped the diffusion of that technology within Sweden. It is shown that Britain was the predominant supplier of technology to Sweden, and that the city of Gothenburg was the principal entry point for the inflow of machinery. The destination for much of the imported technology was Gothenburgs hinterland, although technology was also dispersed from that port to locations in the whole of southern Sweden. Among the inland receivers of technology the mechanical workshop at Motala was the most significant. This paper contends that the technology imported was not the most advanced available, and that the Swedish workshops failed to utilize the advances in machine-tool technology which were achieved by British engineers in the first decades of the nineteenth century. The study is based on analyses of archival material in Sweden and Britain.