Computers in Planning at Dundee.
		Bill Lynch

This article forms the first in a series of accounts where the use of computer aided learning has been adopted in Town Planning teaching in the UK higher education sector.		Overview
		Introduction Skills Development The Teaching of Planning Law and CAL CAL Software Conclusions

Overview

Introduction Computing plays an increasingly important role in the academic and professional development of all undergraduate students within the School of Town and Regional Planning. Indeed the academic as pects of all degree courses offered within the School - (BSc in Town and Regional Planning, BSc in Environmental Management and the MSc in European Urban Conservation) are inextricably linked with computing. The outputs range from a simple wordprocessed essay (compulsory after the first term, in the first-year) to computer slideshow presentations incorporating databases linked to digital maps, still photographs and/or v ideo on - screen. The technology in which students are expected to become proficient is becoming increasingly sophisticated. As a school, we assume no knowledge of computing from our students and then lead them systematically through a progressive exposur e to various software packages. The school operates on a Novell platform with networked PCs operating under a Windows interface. A Compaq Proliant 2000 fileserver with some 25 PCs are available for teaching and general student use along with four high-end PCs for more specialist graphics and mapping work.

Overview

Skills Development Our school took a decision two years ago to provide a skills development course for undergraduate students in the first and second year. This course develops students’ abilities in the areas of communication and presentation. These include: drawing skills , library skills, photography and video skills, oral and written communication, data collection, data analysis, and data presentation. These are all integral and help the students to cope with the requirements of the other taught courses. The computing as pects of this course involve the students having to become proficient in wordprocessing, spreadsheets, databases, mapping, desktop publishing and statistics. Software packages used include WordPerfect, Quattro Pro, Paradox, MapInfo, PageMaker, CorelDraw, SPSS as well as SASPAC, and other specialist packages such as AutoCAD. The statistics elements are extended in the third year with a course in Research Methods. All this development including computing leads to the students producing their own desktop pub lished research project of 12,500 words in the fourth-year.

Overview

The Teaching of Planning Law and CAL Given the nature of the degree programmes, especially the BSc in Town and Regional Planning which is recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute and therefore subject to the Institute’s Educational Guidelines, Planning Law is a key subject area where it is essential to build up technical knowledge. Essentially it is taught by traditional teaching methods with lectures supplemented by worksheets which identify particular questions to be answered after consulting the relevant source material. However, t he availability of new technology has introduced new possibilities for more effective teaching.

Overview

CAL - From CALACOU (Computer Assisted Learning Applied to Changes of Use) to CALASP (Computer Assisted Learning Applied to Statutory Planning) This CAL program was developed, using Authorware, as a first experiment with one facet of planning law - with the more general and longer term objective of a series of programs which would enhance the teaching of statutory planning law and also other appr opriate subjects. The program tests students’ knowledge of use - classes and change of use, as well as providing both student and lecturer with the results - time taken, route to solution etc. Library and help screens are available within the program. Th e program incorporates photographs of buildings and animation. Students work through a logical sequence choosing buildings and dropping them into various use-class areas on the screen. Students can also be asked to change buildings into different use-clas ses and select the appropriate piece of legislation indicating whether or not planning permission would be required. The program was road-tested earlier last year and met with very favourable responses from students. It is to be incorporated into general teaching during this academic year. The development of the program was financed by seed corn research funding from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and was undertaken by a team of three (Ross Henderson provided content on planning law and Bil l Lynch covered computer techniques and jointly supervised the development and writing of the program by Tracey Dixon, the researcher).

Conclusions The Computer Aided Learning potential for improving the teaching of planning law has been clearly demonstrated and it is reasonable to state that virtually every taught course can be supplemented with CAL resources. The direct and indirect costs of this p rogram suggests that future progress will be limited and much potential will remain undeveloped. Incrementalism may be the only way ahead. However, if the planning schools which are active in CAL can collaborate, it should be possible to establish powerfu l consortia for substantial research bids. It would obviously make sense for each school to perhaps specialise in one field of study and at the end of the day there can be a substantial transfer of knowledge and viable teaching packages. Contact with othe rs in this field is therefore welcomed.

Bill Lynch The School of Town and Regional Planning Duncan of Jordanstone College University of Dundee Tel: 01382 345237 Fax: 01382 204234 E-mail: W.LYNCH@dundee.ac.uk

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