Unit Outline

Sustainability is a central concept for communities pursuing social and economic goals within ecological limits. Yet the different ways sustainability is defined, communicated and enacted reflects the wide range of underlying values, perspectives and priorities at stake. In this unit, students will explore the rich history and literature of sustainability, including the formation of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals. By exploring the concept across economic, social and ecological thinking, students will develop an ability to think critically about sustainability in their own lives, and communicate sustainability challenges and solutions to diverse audiences. Employing practical skills in stakeholder engagement, narrative and visual communication, students will develop their research and communication skills to implement a sustainability solution in their local communities.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Describe the frameworks and processes that have led to contemporary sustainability approaches by reflecting on your day-to-day activities
2.	Identify and discuss divergent perspectives and knowledges of sustainability
3.	Identify and communicate sustainability solutions within a local context

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	KAA106

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Stakeholder analysis	Week 9	30 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:	Participation and reflection	Week 14	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Solution report and reflection	Week 15	40 %	LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Stakeholder analysis

Task Description:

n/a

Task Length:

Stakeholder map (visual element) and analysis (1000 words)

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify a diverse range of stakeholder perspectives regarding a local sustainability challenge	LO2
2	Create a stakeholder map to represent the plurality and positions of local stakeholders.	LO2
3	Discuss stakeholder perspectives in light of readings from the unit regarding sustainability definitions, values and narratives.	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 2: Participation and reflection

Task Description:

In this assessment task you will reflect on what you have learned about the relationship between communication and sustainability through participation in discussion board activities.

Part A: Respond to each of the 5 discussion board activities. Your tutor will have a record of your participation across five, fortnightly discussion board activities

Part B: Respond to at least 10 posts from your peers on the discussion board activities. Your tutor will keep a record of your replies to at least one reply to another student’s post.

Part C Write a short 500-word essay reflecting on what you have learned during this unit about the role of communication in relation to addressing sustainability challenges.

Task Length:

5 discussion board posts 5 replies in discussion boards 1 reflection (500 words) submitted to MyLO

Due Date:

Week 14

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Reflect on what you have learned each week by making a weekly contribution to your learning journal (50%)	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Describe how discussions with and between others in this unit has informed your understanding of how different values and priorities inform solutions to sustainability challenges (25%)	LO2
3	Drawing on at least one concept or idea from the unit, reflect what you have learned about the relationship between communication and sustainability (25%)	LO1

Assessment Task 3: Solution report and reflection

Task Description:

n/a

Task Length:

Solution report (1000 words) including image/s. Reflection (500 words)

Due Date:

Week 15

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and research an effective response to a local sustainability challenge	LO3
2	Create a compelling solution report to inform and engage local stakeholders.	LO2, LO3
3	Identify an image that illustrates the effectiveness of the solution.	LO3
4	Reflect on your communication practice by explaining how your report was designed to engage stakeholders, with reference to concepts and readings from the unit.	LO2, LO3

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.