Unit Outline

This unit aims to develop an awareness of environmental and human health impacts of housing in order to inform critical and creative decision-making in the design and renovation of houses. You will explore how housing affects our own health and the health of the planet, and how sustainable design can reduce environmental impacts and improve wellbeing. You will also learn how to make design choices that are more sustainable in relation to your personal needs and circumstances. The unit will emphasise reflective thinking, practical knowledge and an integrated approach that relates issues of sustainability to quality design, functionality and value.

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.	Identify relationships between the design and construction of homes and their impact on the environment and human health.
2.	Define key principles of sustainable design relevant to the design and construction of individual dwellings.
3.	Explain the rationale for judgements about sustainable design priorities for houses in relation to identified environmental and social contexts.
4.	Communicate sustainable design priorities and strategies related to the design, renovation or retrofit of a home.

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:	Housing Brief	Week 10	50 %	LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Five Online Quizzes	Refer to Assessment Description	25 %	LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 3:	Short Answer Questions	Refer to Assessment Description	25 %	LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Housing Brief

Task Description:

You will write a housing brief outlining your housing needs and aspirations in relation to principles of sustainable design and your own unique circumstances. The housing brief can be for a planned new house, extension or renovation, the purchase of a house or for a future real or hypothetical project.

The Housing Brief will comprise:
1. An overview of context (what type of house, where, who will live there and for how long)
2. A list of sustainability priorities and targets (what they are and why you have selected them)
3. A list of housing priorities (key needs and features of the location, site and/or dwelling and how these relate to the context and sustainability priorities listed above)
4. A visual journal of inspiration (relating the housing priorities to interesting precedents (images) of houses, spaces and features)

Task Length:

Overview + priorities (items 1-3 above) – 2-3 pages, approx. 1200 words + visual journal of inspiration (item 4 above) – 3-4 pages A variety of prompted activities & illustrated precedents in each Module will help you develop the content of the Housing Brief as you go. A sample template and example answers will be provided for you on the MyLO site under the folder ‘Assessment Resources’ when Module 1 opens.

Due Date:

Week 10

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and explain relevant sustainable housing priorities for your personal housing situation.	LO3
2	Identify and explain relevant climate design priorities for your climate situation.	LO3
3	Identify, illustrate, and explain relevant housing design examples.	LO2, LO3
4	Present a coherent housing design brief.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Five Online Quizzes

Task Description:

For this assessment task you must complete 5 quizzes by the end of weeks 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. The quizzes are based on content presented in each Module.

The quizzes are due on the following dates:
Module 1 quiz: Week 2
Module 2 quiz: Week 4
Module 3 quiz: Week 6
Module 4 quiz: Week 8
Module 5 quiz: Week 10

Task Length:

Short quiz.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify correct responses related to sustainability and housing.	LO1, LO2
2	Identify correct responses related to sustainability and design.	LO1, LO2
3	Identify correct responses related to design for climate.	LO1, LO2
4	Identify correct responses related to design for health and wellbeing.	LO1, LO2
5	Identify correct responses related to systems, products, and materials.	LO1, LO2

Assessment Task 3: Short Answer Questions

Task Description:

At the end of modules 2 and 3 you will be asked to answer a question interpreting and make judgements about the content of each module in relation to your own circumstances and to explain your reasoning.

The questions are due on the following dates:
Module 2 question: Week 4
Module 3 question: Week 6

Task Length:

Approx. 400 words per question A sample template and example answers will be provided for you on the MyLO site under the folder ‘Assessment Resources’ when the relevant Module opens.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify and describe relevant sustainable housing priorities for your personal housing situation.	LO3
2	Identify and describe relevant climate design priorities for your climate situation.	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.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

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.