Unit Outline

Sustainable Cultures asks students to research and interrogate typical paradigms of architectural production to support sustainable and respectful approaches to practice. You will be asked to engage with professional, academic, and Australian Indigenous sources of knowledge in rigorous ways, gaining an understanding of the intertwining aspects of culturally and environmentally responsive architecture. Approaches to Country will work alongside academic and professional ideas of green building and sustainability to support an understanding of architecture as a process of care for both people and place. This unit responds to competencies in the requirements for architectural accreditation.

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.	Explain the contribution of Australian Indigenous knowledges to contemporary architectural design practices.
2.	Analyse paradigms of sustainability with respect to architectural practices.
3.	Apply research practices and processes to inform evidence-based understanding of the field of architecture.

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:	AT1 Understanding Community in all its forms	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Supporting healthy Country	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Return Brief	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: AT1 Understanding Community in all its forms

Task Description:

Using an expansive definition of “community,” select a community member or aspect of community to investigate and explain. An annotated bibliography will support a well-informed and rigorous presentation. Due in weeks 4-6.

Task Length:

Annotated bibliography and class presentation

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Consider how design for this community member or aspect of community might have implications for Country	LO1
2	Identify design precedents or emergent knowledges that respond respectfully to Aboriginal peoples	LO1
3	Draw on knowledge from environmental, social, or sustainability frameworks	LO2
4	Integrate information relevant to environmental sustainability	LO2
5	Use relevant sources, including architectural history/theory sources	LO3
6	Present using integrated visuals and clear speech	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Supporting healthy Country

Task Description:

Describe, research, understand, articulate and reflect on approaches for connecting to and caring for Country. Formative submissions throughout the semester support continued engagement and acts of care. The assignment culminates in a culturally appropriate presentation, in a form of your choice, in weeks 9-11.

Task Length:

One final presentation or performance of up to ten minutes supported by written documentation. Two short interim reports, one of which must be written and one of which may be verbal.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate an understanding of culturally responsive processes for understanding the importance of Country	LO1
2	Demonstrate an understanding of Australian Indigenous peoples’ aspirations to care for Country	LO1
3	Undertake site, cultural, and contextual analysis	LO3
4	Apply principles for presenting information using culturally responsive methods	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Return Brief

Task Description:

The class will be given a short project brief to respond to, but instead of responding with a design proposition as you would in studio, your small team will provide a return brief identifying relevant contexts, communities, and processes for design. You will communicate your brief using disciplinary norms of a mix of written and visual means (30%). Peer feedback on preparation for formative tasks contribute to individualized marks (10%). Due in weeks 11-13

Task Length:

Return brief of 10-15 pages plus visuals and references

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Present options for culturally responsive and meaningful engagement processes that respect reciprocal relationships with Aboriginal communities	LO1
2	Discuss processes for cultural and contextual analysis	LO1
3	Embed Australian Indigenous perspectives in approaches to design	LO1
4	Propose ways to integrate information relevant to environmental sustainability into the project	LO2
5	Apply lessons from design precedents to inform processes for design	LO2
6	Draw on a variety of sources	LO3
7	Present the information in a professional way accessible to clients and stakeholders	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.