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Utilization of The Human Side of Disaster. Robert M. Schwartz, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Emergency Management The University of Akron. Course. Disaster Victims: Casualties and Recoveries Three credit hours Senior level. Rationale. Introduce basic components of collective behavior
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Utilization of The Human Side of Disaster Robert M. Schwartz, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Emergency Management The University of Akron
Course • Disaster Victims: Casualties and Recoveries • Three credit hours • Senior level
Rationale • Introduce basic components of collective behavior • Societal actions before, during, and after a disaster • Cultural aspects of disasters
Objectives • Principles associated with disasters • Disasters as social problems • Collective behavior theories • Utilization of case studies • Emergency management fundamentals in regard to disasters and behavior • Concepts for responders and managers
Texts • The Human Side of Disaster • The Unthinkable. Who Survives When Disaster Strikes-and Why
Topics • Disaster principles (especially why disasters are social problems) • Collective behavior theories • Disaster Mythology • Crime and Disasters • Media and Disasters • Injuries and Fatalities
Assessment • Quizzes and exams • Assignments • Analysis of videos • Text discussions
Text Strategies • Case studies • Survival actions and behavior • Volunteer groups • “Bitch” Phase • Bureaucratic Nightmares • Disasters as non-routine social problems
Dry reading Extremely boring Hard to get in to Old due to length of stories He is a scholar, not a problem solver Drabek’s opinions Repeated class notes Not an easy a read as Ripley Poor text, terrible author, perhaps a good speaker but writing not one of his skills It wasn’t emphasized enough so I blew off reading Student Negatives
Great Examples Presentation of material Relevant material Real-world view of content Another perspective on myths Positive outlook on actually doing the job right Good Explanations Well written Will deal with situations like these in our careers Useful information Well rounded perspective dealing with people/victims Matter of fact manner Student Positives
Instructor Comments • Great narratives and examples • Conversational writing and reading • Highlighted points at end of chapters • Another perspective on discussions • Emphasize disasters as non-routine social problems • Instructor’s manual useful • Students don’t always know best texts
Course Revisions • Less coverage on collective behavior theories • More in-class discussion with Drabek • Drabek before Ripley