Dr Alan Howard

The primary reason that I work at a university is that I love to teach.

My primary teaching methods incorporate lectures, online exercises and tutorial support, field work and practical exercises. In teaching I aim to:

• offer modules of academic and general interest
• motivate students to explore their subject through academic sources while developing their general knowledge of contemporary issues
• produce module content that attracts many students and gains positive feedback
• provide a range of assessment opportunities
• challenge and develop key transferable skills in IT, team-work, time management and presentational skills
• utilise Web 2.0 technologies.

These objectives are met in various ways, which constantly evolve. Some examples include:

• Development of modules in resource (water and energy) geography and environmental issues that are taken by cross-faculty students. Development of home and overseas field classes and IT-related practical-based courses in software development and web page development
• The use of Blackboard functionality to deliver module content and to set assessment tasks including online quizzes in GG1EI Environmental Issues.
• Use of peer-review marking of presentations and web pages
• Incorporating tasks that require different skills into all modules, irrespective of subject content. For example, students used video as a research technique on the most recent Crete field class and completed daily blogs.
• Encouraging students to critically analyse the quality of the source of information as well as the information itself. Highlighting the importance of peer-reviewed material as a primary literature source while encouraging students to use news readers to gain up-to-date information through RSS feeds.

Current Modules:

• Part 1 Environmental Issues
• Part 2 Energy Resources
• Part 2 Crete Field Class
• Part 2 Barcelona Field Class
• Part 2 Leeds and Region Field Class
• Part 2 Web Page Development
• Part 3 Water Resources
• Part 3 Dissertation
• Masters Holland field class
• Masters Water Quality Problems: Regulation and Management
• Masters Software Development

Current Responsibilities:

• School Director of Teaching and Learning
• School e-Learning Coordinator
• School Director of IT

Previously (selected):

• Course Director, NERC MRes in Earth and Environmental Science
• Course Director, MSc Modelling and Management of Surface Freshwater Systems
• Course Director, MSc Aquatic Systems Science and Management
• Director of Undergraduate Studies, Geography.
• Senior Tutor, Geography.
• Senior Tutor, School of Human and Environmental Science

Current Committees (selected):

• School Council
• Chair, School Board for Teaching and Learning
• Chair, School IT Management and Users Groups
• Faculty Board for Teaching and Learning
• Senate Standing Committee on Examinations
• BSc/MSc Boards of Studies for Archaeology, Environmental Science and Geography
• School Student:Staff Liaison Committees
• School & Faculty Examination Boards
• Programme Special Cases sub-committees
• Faculty of Science representative on Advisory Group to Information Technology Services