Principles of enclosure design – Animal welfare, aesthetics, practicality, maintenance, budgets, materials.

Legislation and legal obligations - Health and Safety, Animal Welfare, Origin of Five Freedoms development of welfare needs and Welfare Domains, husbandry guidelines and species specific implications. Animal, Visitor and Keeper needs and conflicts. Zoo Licensing, The Secretary of States Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (SSSMZP), Zoos Forum, BIAZA, EAZA,WAZA, Managing Health and Safety in Zoos (MHSZ).

History and evolution of Zoo design, Menageries to Hagenbeck, the ‘disinfectant era’ to ecosystem zoos, landscape immersion and sustainable futures, modernist, high tech, quarantine, theories of enclosure design, barren, complex, hard or soft, naturalistic (modified natural/realistic natural) versus artificial/substitute, biotopes,

Construction – sizes, materials, design considerations (visitor/animal/keeper needs),
context, content and message. Decorative and occupational furniture/problem behaviours; review of research and application methods for design ideas. Barriers and their impact – dry moats, wet moats, cages, walls, fences, illusion barriers, consideration of species specific needs and requirements based on lifestyle/habitat/adaptations. Substrate, building construction, foundations, drainage

Practical enclosure design - Enclosure design workshops, , planning and maintenance. Use of basic tools, general fixings and furniture installation and upkeep.

Mixed species exhibits - behavioural needs; ‘un-zoo’ alternatives (recipe for change, expanding the senses, ethnic connections, immersion exhibits)

Collection based learning - Evaluating enclosures against animal welfare, laws and legislation, H&S and keeper, visitor and animal needs.

Education, public access and layout; viewing areas; visitor management strategies and enhancing the visitor experience [Case studies].

Environmental Interpretation - Signs and interactive displays, history and importance of interpretation – link to conservation, environmental interpretation -

Principles of design - evaluation and justification of media types and locations, impact and business need [Case studies; group workshop: review appropriate software and design ideas]

Visitor displays: designing interpretation, ideas/solutions & recommendations, holistic approaches and unifying whole site interpretation – Zoological Society London Case study. Educational content vs. user friendly approaches. Measuring impact and behavioural change

This module will be assessed by two assignments.

The first will be a timed written exam assessing an understanding of animal enclosure design and an ability to critically evaluate a range of existing enclosures for a range of taxa. Images of three enclosures for a range of taxa will be presented for evaluation and appraisal (LOs 1 and 2).

The second will be a portfolio of evidence that plans and designs a holistic system of detailed visitor displays for a nominated animal collection. The portfolio will analyse the importance of environmental interpretation and justify the media, design and content in terms of overall design and effectiveness and impact on visitor behaviour (LO’s 3 and 4).

The module will also involve a range of formative assessment techniques to assess learning and progress throughout the module including self, peer and tutor evaluation, targeted questioning and critical analysis of techniques and skills.

Although this intended as a face to face delivery module, there is opportunity and expectation that there is flexibility in the delivery of the theory elements and use of online and remote learning will be available as required.

This module will be delivered via classroom sessions (60 hrs over 1 semester) that will deliver theory via a range of methods such as traditional lectures, group activities, guest speakers, individual tasks, questioning, role play, modelling, kinaesthetic activities, short research tasks and tutorials and seminars to develop underpinning knowledge and understanding and include practical sessions involving site observations and off site visits

On top of this it is expected that students will partake in at least 140 hours of independent learning for this module. This will include, but is not limited to, preparation for classroom sessions (20hrs), extending classroom notes via extended reading and research (50 hrs), completion of tasks leading from classroom sessions and VLE based tasks (30hrs) and researching, planning and producing assignments (40 hrs).

Technology enhanced learning: All module material will be made available electronically on a Microsoft Teams based virtual learning environment. This will include the ability for students to access some lectures remotely - either live or via asynchronous delivery of voiced over slides, screen capture demonstrations or in house produced training videos. This will also allow formative tasks and in class exercises to be completed and reviewed live. It will allow the linking of technology based supplementary material including, but not limited to, journal links, live seminars and conferences, you tube videos, animal live webcams at zoos and wild areas, online software such as Google Map layers and MINITAB. Use of collaborative learning platforms (e.g. Google whiteboard), Quizizz and other interactive learning, progress and assessment tools and the internet in general will also be used to enhance learning. The college has bookable laptops for student use in all teaching blocks for students that do not have their own hardware to access this material in classroom based sessions. Students will also have their own ProPortal page that can be used to monitor and track their pastoral and academic progress, career development and personal targets and is managed by the tutor through ProMonitor.
Work placements are logged and tracked through Grofar, within which, students, tutors and placement mentors can communicate and track learning.

1. Demonstrate understanding of fundamental elements of animal enclosure design.

Knowledge and Understanding
Learning

2. Critically evaluate current animal enclosures for a range of different species and settings.

Analysis
Problem Solving

3. Effectively analyse the importance of environmental interpretation for impacting visitor behaviour.

Analysis
Communication

4. Apply understanding of environmental interpretation and design a justified system of detailed visitor displays for a named animal collection.

Communication Application
Reflection

ITC Facilities with internet access
Staffordshire University Library
Well-equipped classroom facilities
Rodbaston Animal Zone
~150 hectare managed college owned estate of mixed arable and livestock farmland, ancient woodland, wetlands, ponds, pools and grasslands
Appropriately equipped laboratory
Virtual Learning Environment
Learning Support Centre
Industry Links

Essential Reading

Ham, S. H. (2016) Interpretation: Making a Difference on Purpose. Fulcrum Publishing

Recommended Reading

Young, R. J. (2003) Environmental Enrichment for Captive Animals. UFAW Animal Welfare Series. Blackwell Publishing

Hosey, G., Melfi, V. and Pankhurst S. (2013) Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management and Welfare. Oxford University Press 2nd Ed

Fa, J.E, Funk, S. M. & O’Connell, D (2011) Zoo Conservation Biology – Ecology, Biodiversity and Conservation. Cambridge University Press

Tilden, F (2008) Interpreting Our Heritage. University North Carolina Pr.4th Ed

Baratay, E, B. and Hardouin-Fugier, E. (2002) Zoo:A History of Zoological Gardens in the West. Reaktion Books Ltd

Journals
Conservation Biology
Zoology
Zoo Biology
International Zoo Yearbook
Behavioural Ecology
Animal Behaviour
The UFAW Journal – Animal Welfare