Unit Outline

Contemporary media is saturated with images of extreme weather events, hunger, poverty, conflict, pollution, austerity, and financial crisis. Mounting evidence suggests the 21st century will be defined by unprecedented challenges related to environmental instability, economic inequality and risks to social well-being on a global scale. The idea of sustainability has become a focal point in efforts to tackle the root causes of these challenges yet often seems elusive. The meanings of sustainability and implications for action are as hotly contested as they are complex, wide-ranging and value-laden. As a result, this unit brings a wide range of perspectives to bear on questions of sustainability that integrate environmental, social and economic disciplines. The unit will develop your interdisciplinary understanding of sustainability through critical thinking, reflection and evidence-based argument focussed on practical case studies drawn from around the world. Unit delivery focuses on dialogue and inquiry between teachers, yourself, and your peers that respects the importance of diverse perspectives. The unit develops skills related to understanding core concepts, synthesising knowledge, communicating with diverse audiences, engaging in constructive debate and becoming more self-aware of what sustainability means and what practices it entails—professionally and personally.

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	Demonstrate understanding of a range of evidence, debate, and theoretical perspectives related to social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability.
2	Critically investigate and synthesise theories, practices, arguments, and values that give meaning to sustainability.
3	Reflect upon and articulate your current understanding of sustainability and constructively engage with the views of others, both as an individual and as part of a group/team.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)	HAA101 Confronting Sustainability XBR101 Engaging with Sustainability

Alterations as a result of student feedback

In acknowledgement of the work involved in the group project assessment task, the weighting of this assessment has been increased to 40% (up from 30% in previous years).

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:	Essay Preparation Task	Refer to Assessment Description	10 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Essay	Refer to Assessment Description	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Learning Journal	Refer to Assessment Description	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Group Project	Refer to Assessment Description	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Essay Preparation Task

Task Description:

For a full description of this task, including the due dates and times, see assessment information in MyLO. Note that the order of the assessment tasks listed in this unit outline does not necessarily reflect the order in which the assessments are due.

Task Length:

500 words

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

10 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Overall engagement with the task	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Identifying an appropriate example	LO1
3	Understanding the nature of the example	LO1
4	Identifying the assumptions relevant to the example	LO2
5	Presenting the arguments relevant to the example	LO2
6	Academic writing	LO3
7	Referencing	LO3

Assessment Task 2: Essay

Task Description:

Task Length:

1000 words (plus or minus 10%)

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Engagement with the question	LO1, LO2
2	Understanding of the relevant material	LO1, LO2
3	Choice of example	LO1, LO2
4	Presentation of your position	LO1, LO2
5	Critical analysis	LO1, LO2
6	Academic writing	LO1, LO2, LO3
7	Referencing	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 3: Learning Journal

Task Description:

Task Length:

1500 words (plus or minus 10%)

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Reflections upon your learning and learning process	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Ongoing engagement with learning materials and activities	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Articulation of your activities and contributions	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 4: Group Project

Task Description:

Task Length:

Synchronous online 12-15 minute presentation (incorporating Q & A).

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Synthesis	LO1, LO2, LO3
2	Research	LO1, LO2, LO3
3	Identification of the problem	LO1, LO2, LO3
4	Response to the problem	LO1, LO2, LO3
5	Relevance and coherence of the material	LO1, LO2, LO3
6	Design of the presentation	LO1, LO2, LO3
7	Delivery of the presentation	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 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.