Unit Outline
KGA107
Local Lives for a Sustainable Planet
11 Week Session Oct, 2024
Danny Carney
School of Geography, Planning, and Spatial Sciences
College of Sciences and Engineering
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Danny Carney
Email: Daniel.Carney@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
This capstone unit will give you the opportunity to bring together your learnings and apply sustainability knowledge and literacy to aspects of your own life, and to identify how it can contribute to sustainable outcomes within your wider community and globally. As a capstone to the Diploma of Sustainable Living, the unit integrates theory and practice of sustainable living within a systems thinking environment. You study social change as a dynamic, critical thinking process and examine techniques, frameworks, and tools for progressing sustainable living through contemporary, reflective facilitation methods. Interactive online activities will enable you to explore different approaches to systems thinking, where the interrelatedness and multidisciplinary nature of sustainability challenges and opportunities can be tackled. Our aim in teaching KGA107 is to demonstrate how the study of sustainability within the Geography and Spatial Sciences discipline can enhance your lived experience, and enable you to support your communities and organisations to participate in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The unit will allow students to demonstrate how they can contribute to the creation of a fairer and more sustainable world. Students wishing to enrol in further studies might consider the Major in Sustainability. We teach in the belief that rigour and passion are a powerful combination in knowing the world so as to change it for the better. We hope you find studying Local Lives for a Sustainable Planet relevant, interesting, challenging and exciting! Students engage in 6 x 1.5 hour Online Interactive Forums and lecture content, online discussions and assessment tasks. Assessment is 100% internal (i.e., no examination) and enables you to actively engage with ideas and issues, reflect on your learning and learn collaboratively.
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
Apply the UN Sustainable Development Goals in personal and community contexts.
2
Use interdisciplinary concepts and principles to inform problem solving and decision making for sustainability.
3
Undertake actions to resolve global sustainability challenges at the personal and community level.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
HEJ111 or KAA106 plus 37.5 credit points of study in Z1K or Z0U
Alterations as a result of student feedback
 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Online
Individual Study
Online reading of the unit content.
1.50
Weekly
Workshop (Online)
Online workshops six times across the semester.
1.50
Study Period 6 times
Project
This is the time you will need to complete the three assessments across the unit.
6
Study Period 3 times
Independent Learning
In order to get the most out of our shared learning, we recommend that you contribute to the Discussion Boards on Mylo, including engaging with the contributions of others.
1
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
 
 
 

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: Knowledge Tree Synthesis
Week 4
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
AT2: Intervention for Change
Week 8
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
AT3: Practise Manual
Week 11
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: AT1: Knowledge Tree Synthesis
Task Description:
By the start of Week 2 you will have completed an Engagement Task where you posted previous learnings relating to a sustainability problem in an online ‘Knowledge Tree’. Your post would have been made under one of the 'Knowledge Tree's ‘existing Sustainability Challenge Themes’.

For this assignment:
1. Choose a ‘Sustainability Challenge Theme’.
2. Review the knowledge tree posts within that theme.
3. Write a 800 word report that:
(a) Describes the range of problems in your chosen ‘Sustainability Challenge Theme’ and identify which of those problems you believe is the most serious.
(b) Explains why you think the problem is so serious, including what makes this problem a wicked problem, and justify your stance with supporting evidence. Describe any important inter-relationships/connections of your chosen problem with other sustainability problems.
(c) Explains how this problem affects you and your community. Here community can mean workplace community, and or the local community where you live. Give detail of any personal experience with the problem and/or how your lived experience shapes your concern for the problem.
(d) Explains how this problem relates to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Your answers may include but is not required to include 1 of either a figure: chart, graph, map, image, diagram etc, or table. This is excluded in the word count but this must be interpreted in the body of the report.

Your report must cite any relevant sources using the APA 7th Referencing style. The use of generative AI in the completion of this assessment task is discouraged. However, any use of AI as a learning tool must be in alignment with the UTAS guidelines on academic integrity.
Task Length:
800 word report +/- 10%.
Due Date:
Week 4
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Provide a rationale for identifying and assessing a sustainability problem (40%).
LO1, LO2
2
Relate a major sustainability problem at personal and community level (30%).
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Identify relevant Sustainable Development Goals (20%).
LO1, LO2
4
Communicate sustainability problems using academic writing and prescribed referencing styles (10%)
LO1, LO2
 
Assessment Task 2: AT2: Intervention for Change
Task Description:
For this task, you will design an intervention for change.

You will select a problem to address at a personal and community level in which to develop an intervention for change. The problem being addressed in Task 2 can be the same problem described in Task 1 or can involve a completely new problem. The main thing is to select a sustainability problem that has relevance to you personally and within your community. Again, here community can mean workplace community, and or the local community where you live. In terms of the latter, your family household or share house would be the smallest measure of community. Ideally we would like students to select problems they can address upon finishing the unit.

Write a report detailing your intervention for change project that;
1. Includes 1 x A4 page project logic chain. An template will be provided to guide the development of your project logic chain. The template will ask you to
a. provides a short descriptive title for the project
b. identity the project’s:
i. goals/targets,
ii. stakeholders/ partners,
iii. activities,
iv. inputs,
v. outcomes,
vi. link to Sustainable Development Goals,
vii. evaluation indicators.
2. Describes and analyses in 1000 words your project in terms of:
a. A brief overview of the current situation, giving attention to some of the social, political, moral, cultural, economic and or environmental issues involved.
b. What are some of your assumptions, values and beliefs concerning sustainability and how are they embodied in the intervention for change? A key sub-question to address is:
i. How might your assumptions, values and beliefs differ from those of others involved in the project and how would you work with this difference?
c. How your intervention will work, including the key practices and how stakeholders/partners will be involve.
Your description and analysis may include figures: charts, graphs, maps, images, diagrams etc, or tables. These are excluded in the word count and must be interpreted in the body of the report.

Your report must cite any relevant sources using APA 7th Referencing. The use of generative AI is discouraged, however any use of AI as a learning tool must be in alignment with the UTAS guidelines on academic integrity.
Task Length:
1x A4 Project Logic Chain + 1000 word report +/- 10%
Due Date:
Week 8
Weight:
40 %
 
 

CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply a range of intervention for change theories, frameworks, principles and concepts (40%)
LO1, LO2
2
Define and describe intervention for change (50%)
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Communicate intervention for change using academic writing and prescribed referencing styles (10%)
LO1, LO2
 
Assessment Task 3: AT3: Practise Manual
Task Description:
For this task, you will compile a Practice Manual that identifies and describes 13 ‘learning artefacts’ that have provided meaning to your aspirations for sustainable living. A ‘learning artefact’ is any object/thing that has lasting effect/affect and has helped you progress your learning and can include things like a report, book, essay, article, concept, idea, meme, theory, framework, process, principle, project, event, certificate, lesson, course, degree, people, group, event, etc. The manual should serve to organise the practical tools for promoting sustainable living that you have acquired throughout your studies and your life journey.

Your Practice Manual should be structured as follows (an example is available in Mylo):
1) Introduction: You will introduce the ‘learning artefacts’ by first preparing a reflection that explains what you have learned about sustainability. Reflect also on what role the Diploma of Sustainable Living has played in your learning.
2) Artefacts: Each artefact should be depicted through a mixture of images and or text. In addition, for each artifact, you will provide a 100 word annotation that explains how the artefact gives meaning to and contextualises your aspirations for sustainable living.
3) Conclusion: In the context of your learning, you will outline your future plans for sustainable living - these can be plans across different scales and scopes. You must show how these plans relate to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Your Practice Manual must cite any relevant sources. As this is a reflective assignment, the use of generative AI is not permitted.
Task Length:
Max 1800 words +/- 10% comprising 1) 13 artefacts with approximately 100 words annotation for each artefact, and 2) 500 words spread across the introduction and conclusion section.
Due Date:
Week 11
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Create and populate a practice manual with relevant artefacts and evidence (20%).
LO2
2
Define sustainable living plans using a practice manual (40%)
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Reflect on personal aspirations and contributions to the Sustainable Development Goals to inform future goals (30%).
LO1, LO2
4
Communicate sustainability information using academic writing and referencing styles (10%).
LO1, 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 make a submission for every assignment. 
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.
 
 

 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
Required readings are embedded within the weekly online content on Mylo.
 
Recommended reading materials
Any further supplementary readings are suggested within the weekly online content on Mylo.
 
Other required resources