Unit Outline

Extreme environments are so named due to the unique challenges they pose to human performance. In this online unit you will learn about the factors that characterise an environment as extreme, and how living and/or working in an extreme environment can influence human functioning. In this context, you will consider how individuals and groups can manage distress and enhance resilience. Extreme environments considered include Antarctica, outer space, military operations, disaster sites, and cults. In this unit, you will examine how intrapersonal, interpersonal, and organisational factors influence the challenges posed by extreme environments. This unit would be of benefit to students with an interest in factors which influence human performance and resilience, and to students who work in, or intend to work in, extreme environments.

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.	Evaluate factors that contribute to an environment being defined as extreme
2.	Evaluate how extreme environments impact human functioning
3.	Evaluate how the impacts of extreme environments on human functioning are affected by intrapersonal (individual), interpersonal (relationship) and organisational factors.
4.	Apply advanced knowledge of prevention and intervention strategies to enhance human functioning in extreme environments.
5.	Apply effective communication skills and academic integrity principles.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Optional live workshops will be held to support student learning and completion of assessment tasks.

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:	The Right Stuff applied activity	Week 6	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Scenario Report	Week 13	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 3:	Written Assignment	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: The Right Stuff applied activity

Task Description:

You will complete one (1) practical activity relating to personality in recruitment, along with written responses which are designed to reinforce unit content.
1. “The Right Stuff” personality task
You will complete a personality assessment, and critically reflect on your suitability for employment within an extreme environment. You will draw on relevant literature regarding the characteristics regarded as important in recruitment of personnel in extreme environments.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provide a context for the applied activity (i.e., describe EUEs and “The Right Stuff”).	LO1, LO2
2	Discuss the impact of personality traits on human functioning in EUEs	LO3
3	Apply your own personality assessment data to determine your suitability for EUE employment, drawing on relevant literature regarding the personality characteristics deemed important for EUE employment	LO3
4	Critically evaluate the use of personality profiling in EUE recruitment	LO4
5	Communicate effectively by writing clearly and accurately, and integrating evidence.	LO5
6	Response incorporates relevant academic literature and reflects sound academic integrity standards.	LO5

Assessment Task 2: Scenario Report

Task Description:

This assignment has two stages.
In the first stage, you will be allocated to a group to participate in a scenario exercise relating to an EUE.
In the second stage, you will complete a scenario report on the exercise – this is what is ultimately assessed, but you will not be able to complete the report if you do not participate actively in the scenario exercise.

Task Length:

2000 words

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Present a case study of the EUE encountered, describing your EUE generally and the scenario specifically, and discussing the potential impacts of the EUE/scenario on human functioning.	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Present an action plan designed to address the challenges of your EUE scenario based on group work conducted.	LO4
3	Present a critical reflection on the scenario task, discussing its impacts on the behaviour of group members (including yourself), and the way in which the task may be considered an EUE analogue.	LO2, LO3
4	Communicate effectively by writing clearly and accurately, and integrating evidence.	LO5
5	Response incorporates relevant academic literature, and reflects sound academic integrity standards.	LO5

Assessment Task 3: Written Assignment

Task Description:

You will develop a research study to investigate an aspect of human behaviour in extreme environments. You may choose to focus on investigating a behaviour or implementation of an intervention. You may also choose the extreme and unusual environment in which your research is conducted.

Task Length:

2500 words maximum

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Design a research study that addresses an existing knowledge deficit regarding human behaviour/performance in your chosen EUE	LO2
2	Develop a rationale for your study that logically leads to your proposed aims/hypotheses	LO1
3	Create a research design that allows you to answer/address your research aim/question	LO4
4	Design a study that can be feasibly undertaken given available resources in your chosen EUE	LO1
5	Design a research study that incorporates aspects of individual, interpersonal and/or organisational impacts on human behaviour in the chosen extreme environment	LO3
6	Communicate effectively by presenting information clearly and accurately, and integrating evidence	LO5
7	Incorporate relevant academic literature and employ sound academic integrity standards in your research study design.	LO5

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.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

There is no prescribed text for the unit. However, there are required weekly readings (e.g., journal articles or book chapters related to the week’s topic). Required readings are clearly identified in the relevant module content on MyLO and are available through the unit’s Reading List.