Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Co-convenor
Belinda Bean
Contact via belinda.bean@mq.edu.au
Unit Convenor
Leanne Denby
Contact via leanne.denby@mq.edu.au
Sustainability - Y1A
By appointment
Other Staff
Katherine McClellan
Contact via katherine.mcclellan@mq.edu.au
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
Sustainability is a dynamic concept that is best understood through theoretical and practical acquisition of knowledge. This unit considers some of the major themes underpinning sustainability in practice including: environmental issues and responses, environmental auditing, project planning and management, communication for change and behaviour change. The context for this unit is the workplace and how sustainability can be promoted and implemented. These topics are discussed in workshop style lectures where the emphasis is on interactive learning. Workshops include individual and group work, focusing on organisational responses to environmental issues. The practical component of this unit involves an internship within an organisation to develop and/or implement actions for change towards sustainability. The internship provides students with an opportunity to put theory to practice, gaining valuable experience in actual organisations. Students who are interested in sustainability, environmental management and behaviour change will enjoy this unit. The growing recognition of the importance of integrating social and environmental considerations into business as usual processes makes this unit ever more pertinent.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Environmental Audit | 15% | 16 August 2014 |
Group presentation | 20% | 17 August 2014 |
Individual Presentation | 15% | 31 Aug 2014 |
Internship report | 25% | 5 December 2014 |
Learning journal | 15% | 5 December 2014 |
Evaluation | 10% | 5 December 2014 |
Due: 16 August 2014
Weighting: 15%
You will work in a team to conduct energy, water and waste audits of a hypothetical organisation, during class time.
Due: 17 August 2014
Weighting: 20%
You will work in a team to develop and deliver a 7 minute presentation in class which presents the results of the audits and makes recommendations for improvements based on what you found.
Due: 31 Aug 2014
Weighting: 15%
You will prepare, structure and deliver a 7 minute presentation on an environmental sustainability topic of your choice, in class. Preparation will take place between the first and second block mode delivery of the unit, with the presentation to occur in the second block delivery period.
Due: 5 December 2014
Weighting: 25%
During your internship you will provide your host organisation with a final product in a format agreed between yourself and your host supervisor. The product will be the result of the project undertaken whilst on internship.
Due: 5 December 2014
Weighting: 15%
During your internship, you will record observations and thoughts about your learning and experiences and present the top five for assessment. This assessment requires reflective practice.
Due: 5 December 2014
Weighting: 10%
Your host supervisor will complete an evaluation which will assess your performance and project output.
Power point presentation is used throughout the course. All resources will be provided during class time. Information pertaining to the unit will also be included on iLearn.
You may be required to bring in a laptop device for the environmental audits and group presentation.
BIOL392 is delivered in block mode over two weekends: 15-17 August and 29-31 August, commencing 9am each day and concluding by 5pm Fridays and Saturdays, earlier on Sundays.
BIOL392 is a PACE unit. PACE units provide an academic framework through which students can engage with the community, learn through participation, develop their capabilities and build on the skills that employers value. By completing a PACE unit, students develop all these skills and capabilities, and also gain academic credit towards their degree.
This is a pass/fail unit, with most assessment tasks taking place during class time and during the internship. It is an interactive class, where students will participate in many activities.
iLearn can be accessed through traditional channels. Check for the BIOL392 code.
None
All will be provided during class.
This unit is offered in block mode over two weekends in Semster two of 2014.
Block mode 1 in room W6B 357:
9am - 5pm Friday 15 August 2014
9am - 5pm Saturday 16 August 2014
9am - 1pm Sunday 17 August 2014
Block mode 2 in room W6B 357:
9am - 5pm Friday 29 August 2014
9am - 5pm Saturday 30 August 2014
9am - 1pm Sunday 31 August 2014
Due to the participatory nature of the Green Steps unit, you are required to attend each day in order to gain the required learning for the internship associated with this PACE unit.
The internship is a 10 day placement with an organisation of your choice. The way in which you undertake the internship is negotiated between you and the organisation to ensure the days you work suit each party. For example, you may prefer to work 2 weeks straight or choose to only work 1-2 days per week until the 10 days are completed. The block mode will set you up early in the semester to complete the internship prior to the end of the semester, though special consideration to complete the internship outside of normal semester times will be considered.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by:
As local citizens our graduates will be aware of indigenous perspectives and of the nation's historical context. They will be engaged with the challenges of contemporary society and with knowledge and ideas. We want our graduates to have respect for diversity, to be open-minded, sensitive to others and inclusive, and to be open to other cultures and perspectives: they should have a level of cultural literacy. Our graduates should be aware of disadvantage and social justice, and be willing to participate to help create a wiser and better society.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be aware of and have respect for self and others; to be able to work with others as a leader and a team player; to have a sense of connectedness with others and country; and to have a sense of mutual obligation. Our graduates should be informed and active participants in moving society towards sustainability.
This graduate capability is supported by: