Capstone: Final

Sean Cornell, Shippensburg University, srcornell@ship.edu

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Initial Publication Date: December 7, 2016 | Reviewed: September 23, 2014 (see revision history: 2 events)

Summary

Part 4 of the capstone (Stage 4) requires students to complete data collection on their Coastal Vulnerability Audit. They also should finish the remaining sections of the CVAT that focus on Vulnerability, Planning & Action. In this effort, students will explore topics including research, education, informed adaptation, mitigation, and policy-based options that might be applied to their selected coastal setting (as shown in Figure 1 below). Students at this point in the semester (after completion of Modules 1 to 12) should have completed the entire audit. Students will also use this information at this stage to compile their finished script, and will record and produce their audio visual Google Earth Tours. Students should plan to submit their finalized CVAT, together with their audio script, and the final Google Earth A/V tour. They should revisit instructor feedback from earlier stages and make sure to adopt/adapt any changes noted. Thus, by week 14 of the course, students should have completed the CVAT, and they should be finalizing their tours by week 15. As shown in Figure 2 (below), students will center their efforts on the essential question. Sub-stage criteria (K1 to O1) are outlined in Figure 2. Students should be able to address each of these in their CVAT.

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Learning Goals

As outlined in the capstone overview (Stage 1), Capstone Part 4 Final (Stage 4) provides a benchmark to support student learning.

In addition to meeting learning goals associated with earlier stages, at this juncture students should be able to characterize key vulnerabilities and the adaptive capacity of their selected region given the specific demographics (education level, income, age, community preparedness, etc.) of the communities that reside there. They should be able to explore evidence of resiliency planning, which may include disaster management planning for future disasters both in short-term and in the long-term as climate change and sea-level rise impacts their location. Students should also be able to compile and explain other vulnerability concerns (both local and regional) for their specific site and generate a prioritized list of recommended action plans to help improve resiliency of the people and infrastructure at their selected coastal site.

The essential question (and related sub-questions K1 to O1 as shown in Figure 2) that students should be able to answer is: "Given your evaluation of coastal hazards (physical vulnerability and exposure) and their impacts on society (human vulnerabilities) what options do members of your locality have in responding to their specific coastal hazards presently and in the future?"

Context for Use

See Capstone Part 1 for details.

Description and Teaching Materials

See Capstone Part 1 for details. Student materials for Capstone Part 4 are also available.

Teaching Notes and Tips

In week 13 of the course (i.e. after Module 12 is completed), the instructor should check in with the students with reminders and ask if guidance is necessary. Students should be reminded to use the provided benchmarks and set a final project deadline so they complete their capstone in a timely manner. Students should be 100 percent finished with their CVA (i.e. CVAT worksheets (Microsoft Word 2007 (.docx) 18kB Sep7 16) should be completed with relevant research data and well-thought-out plans that are well-supported for recommendations that they have prioritized). By week 14 students should have finished their scripts for the final capstone submission. And the capstone itself should be completed by week 15. Figure 2 above is intended to be used as a guiding/planning document. Students should be given Figure 2 (Capstone Stage 4: Vulnerability, Planning, and Action) as a benchmark document, and should be engaged in self assessment using the individual benchmarks (K1 to O1). The instructor should inform students that if they are having difficulty answering or completing any of the sections of the CVAT, they should revisit the module readings and assessments as necessary. Figure 2 is intended to be used as a guiding/planning document.

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Assessment

Instructors may want to ask to see the CVAT in week 12 of the course to make sure the students have completed their analyses. Instructors might also encourage students to bring their scripts to office hours or to share them with other students for review. In terms of formal assessment plans, see Capstone Part 1 for final capstone assessment details.