Unit Outline

In this unit you will draw on a growing body of research evidence that reveals exposure to natural environments can provide short- and long-term impacts on individuals’ lives, particularly in relation to their physical health, emotional wellbeing, learning, and character capabilities such as empathy, creativity, and innovation. You will be supported to explore ways in which natural environments can contribute to wellbeing across different age groups, and to (re)discover how to learn in, with, and through nature. You will put this learning into practice through a program plan that provides opportunities for participants to explore, attend to, and benefit from natural 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	Research and describe the impacts of natural environments on health and well-being.
2	Apply environmental theories to explain outcomes of health and well-being for individuals and groups.
3	Evaluate and apply key environmental concepts to outdoor program plans for health and well-being in outdoor natural environments.
4	Demonstrate academic integrity and environmental values through the sharing of ideas and reflections in writing, speaking, and teamwork.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	50 credit points of Introductory units in the Bachelor of Outdoor and Environmental Education

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:	Self-reflection Essay	Week 5	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Case study	Week 7	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Program Presentation	Week 12	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 4:	Fieldwork	Week 15	0 %	LO1, LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Self-reflection Essay

Task Description:

Written evaluation of personal natural environment experience in relation to environmental theories that explain health and well-being benefits.

Task Length:

1000 words

Due Date:

Week 5

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Reflect on personal natural environment experience in relation to well-being	LO1
2	Examine environmental theory that impacts health and well-being	LO2
3	Apply environmental theories to personal natural environment experience	LO1
4	Apply academic integrity values to the communication of ideas and reflections.	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Case study

Task Description:

A case study that considers an individual or group context in which participants are seeking to improve health and/or well-being through engagement with natural environments.

Task Length:

1600 words

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Collect, analyse, and interpret data to support health and well-being	LO1
2	Apply environmental theory to frame well-being	LO2
3	Evaluate environmental behaviour frameworks for nature-based participation	LO3
4	Apply academic integrity values to the communication of ideas and reflections.	LO4

Assessment Task 3: Program Presentation

Task Description:

Presentation of theory-based strategies to frame a practical and evidence-informed program that meets the needs of a group of participants.

Task Length:

1600 words (equivalent)

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe the impacts of natural environments on health and well-being.	LO1
2	Apply environmental theory to promote nature-based participation for well-being	LO2
3	Implement environmental concepts to practical situations	LO3
4	Apply academic integrity and environmental values to the communication of ideas and reflections.	LO4

Assessment Task 4: 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:

Week 15

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

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.