Unit Outline
ENV107
Introduction to River and Alpine Environments
Semester 2, 2025
Marcus Morse
Faculty of Education
College of Arts, Law and Education
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Marcus Morse
Email: marcus.morse@utas.edu.au
What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
 

In this subject you will further develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence required for safe investigation and analysis of outdoor environments. You will explore natural and cultural histories, land management systems and ecosystem level relationships within both river and alpine environments. Theory and practical work, including field experience, extend safe practice, reasonable judgement, care for others, sustainability practices, and the ability to learn from experience. 
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
Recognise patterns and relationships in river and alpine ecosystems and the challenges facing those ecosystems
2
Apply cultural, social, and ecological concepts to field investigations and analysis in river and alpine environments
3
Evaluate safety, leadership, and journey skills in river and alpine environments.
4
Demonstrate academic integrity values through the sharing of ideas and reflections in writing, speaking, and teamwork.
Alterations as a result of student feedback
New Unit
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
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:
Fieldwork
See the MyLO site for the due date
0 %
LO1, LO2
Assessment Task 2:
Alpine Environment Field Report
Week 5
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:
Critical Reflection Essay
Week 11
30 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:
River Environment Field Journal
Week 14
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Fieldwork
Task Description:
Satisfactory participation in practical fieldwork is required to meet this hurdle assessment. Satisfactory participation includes adequate preparation, safe practices, care for self, others and the environment, and active engagement in group work. Students who are unable to attend will have the opportunity to complete the hurdle later in the teaching period or when the subject reoccurs in a following teaching period (within 12 months).
Task Length:
 
Due Date:
See the MyLO site for the due date
Weight:
0 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Prepare for outdoor environmental studies fieldwork.
LO1
2
Participate in learning opportunities
LO1
3
Engage in group work during fieldwork
LO2
4
Apply safe practices for self, others, and the environment
LO2
 
Assessment Task 2: Alpine Environment Field Report
Task Description:
Combine practical evaluation with a written field report that includes preparation, field observations, and reflections. (format supplied in class).
Task Length:
1200 words
Due Date:
Week 5
Weight:
30 %
 

 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Explore and discuss social and cultural histories of place
LO2
2
Investigate and analyse ecosystem relationships in alpine environments
LO1
3
Evaluate and critique safety and leadership in alpine environments
LO3
4
Apply academic integrity values to the communication of ideas and reflections.
LO4
 
Assessment Task 3: Critical Reflection Essay
Task Description:
Analyse practical fieldwork and travel to critically reflect on your lived experience of a specific Tasmanian place.
Task Length:
1200 words
Due Date:
Week 11
Weight:
30 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Recognise patterns and relationships in field experiences
LO1
2
Discuss field experiences to inform future participation in outdoor environments
LO2
3
Evaluate travel and group management frameworks in outdoor environments
LO3
4
Apply academic integrity values to the communication of ideas and reflections.
LO4
 
Assessment Task 4: River Environment Field Journal
Task Description:
Combine practical evaluation with a journal that records observations in-situ and requires further research and analysis of social, cultural, and/or ecological relationships.
Task Length:
1600 words
Due Date:
Week 14
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Explore and discuss social and cultural histories of place
LO2
2
Investigate and analyse ecosystem relationships in river environments
LO1
3
Evaluate and critique safety and leadership in river environments
LO3
4
Apply academic integrity values to the communication of ideas and reflections.
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.
Academic progress review
The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.
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.