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.	Appraise factors that contribute to an environment being defined as extreme.
2.	Evaluate how extreme environments impact human psychological functioning.
3.	Apply knowledge of prevention and intervention strategies to enhance human psychological functioning in extreme environments.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	25 points at introductory level in any discipline in any College
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	KHA336

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Following student feedback, live workshops will be held throughout the semester to further support learning and support assessment completion.

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:	MyLO Quizzes	Week 2	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Reflection	Week 6	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Scenario report	Week 13	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: MyLO Quizzes

Task Description:

Quiz x 10
10 quizzes to be completed weekly from week 2, by midnight on the Sunday of the relevant week (see unit schedule; quiz weeks align with discussion board weeks)

Quizzes Due - Weeks 2-10

Task Length:

30 minutes each.

Due Date:

Week 2

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe factors that contribute to an environment being defined as extreme.	LO1
2	Explain how extreme environments impact human functioning.	LO2
3	Explain how the impacts of extreme environments on human functioning are affected by intrapersonal (individual), interpersonal (relationship) and organisational factors.	LO3
4	Apply knowledge of prevention and intervention strategies to enhance human functioning in extreme environments.	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Reflection

Task Description:

The Right Stuff applied activity (individual task)
You will complete a personality assessment, and critically reflect on your suitability for employment within an EUE. You will draw on relevant literature regarding the impact of personality on human functioning in EUEs. You will discuss the personality characteristics regarded as important in the recruitment of personnel in EUEs. You will consider the use of personality profiling in EUE recruitment.
Further details about this assignment are available on MyLO.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 6

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Provide a context for the applied activity (i.e., describe EUEs and “The Right Stuff”).	LO1
2	Discuss the impact of personality traits on human functioning in EUEs	LO2
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	LO3
5	Communicate effectively by writing clearly and accurately, and integrating evidence.	LO1, LO2, LO3
6	Response incorporates relevant academic literature and reflects sound academic integrity standards.	LO2

Assessment Task 3: 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:

40 %

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.	LO2
2	Present an action plan designed to address the challenges of your EUE scenario based on group work conducted.	LO3
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.	LO1, LO2
4	Communicate effectively by writing clearly and accurately, and integrating evidence.	LO1, LO2, LO3
5	Response incorporates relevant academic literature and reflects sound academic integrity standards.	LO2

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.