Unit Outline

A unit essential for those working towards a career managing natural environments and people in protected areas. For those with other vocational interests, the unit is a way to learn about natural ecosystems and the principles of conservation management. Fire, weed, feral and people management require the biophysical knowledge that this unit provides. They also require an understanding of planning, administrative and management systems, all of which can facilitate or impede the achievement of conservation outcomes. We develop this broad understanding of factors relevant to the conservation management of ecosystems and species in protected areas, and train students in the formulation of natural environment management plans. The plans we produce are usually used by the protected area managers. Field work is used to familiarise students with the management problems of a particular protected area and to collect data relevant to the formulation of the management plan.

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.	Engage in critical thinking about conservation in protected areas
2.	Communicate effectively on the subject in maps and writing
3.	Employ basic terminology and concepts in protected area management for nature conservation
4.	Analyse and interpret basic spatial information and interpret spatial patterns in terms of management needs

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:	Field test map	Refer to Assessment Description	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Field test quiz	Refer to Assessment Description	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Lecture quizzes	Refer to Assessment Description	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Management plan	Refer to Assessment Description	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Field test map

Task Description:

Create map/s that will be used in a management plan of a field study area examined during the intensive practicum. This group task will be used to assess your understanding of how to visualise field management objectives and priorities.
Though eventually a summative task, multiple opportunities for formative feedback will be made available during the practicum.

Task Length:

Management maps embedded in a powerpoint presentation.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Quality of map elements	LO4
2	Synthesis of spatial data in maps	LO1
3	Accuracy and utility of map data	LO2

Assessment Task 2: Field test quiz

Task Description:

You are required to identify and communicate the major objectives and actions to manage a study area for nature conservation. You will do this by way of an in-field test of one-hour duration, during the intensive practicum.

Task Length:

One hour to produce approximately 800-words, completed in the field during the intensive practicum.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify the major objectives and actions that appear necessary to manage the field study area for nature conservation.	LO3
2	Differentiate between objectives and actions	LO1
3	Communicate objectives and actions succinctly, using appropriate terminology	LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Lecture quizzes

Task Description:

You will show your understanding of the lecture material on each day of the unit lectorial series through your successful completion of five daily quizzes. Each quiz contains short-answer and multiple-choice questions to assess your understanding. The quizzes are to be completed on paper, in-person, during the intensive period of this unit.

Task Length:

5 X 10-question paper-based quizzes, 30-minutes allocated per day for five days to complete the tasks.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Accuracy of answer	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
2	Use of correct terminology in-context	LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 4: Management plan

Task Description:

You will write part of a management plan for a field study area assessed during an intensive practicum. You will provide a background, brief discussion of issues, objectives, policies, actions, monitoring and evaluation procedures in this plan submission.
This submission is due 14 days after the completion on the intensive practicum.

Task Length:

Maximum 1000 words.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Adopts conventions and language of a management plan	LO2
2	Submission is feasible and appropriate to the context of the study area	LO1
3	Submission is clearly-communicated	LO3
4	Exhibits understanding of the ecological context of the plan	LO4

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.