Requirements to Pass this Unit: To pass this unit you should attempt and submit all assessments, and must achieve an aggregate mark equal to or greater than 50%.

We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.

Assessment Criteria: Assessment at Macquarie University is standards-based, as outlined in the Assessment Policy. This means that your work will be assessed against clear criteria, and these criteria (e.g. in a rubric) will be made available when the assessment tasks are released to you on iLearn. 

Referencing: Students often ask about the preferred referencing style. The University approves five styles (https://libguides.mq.edu.au/referencing). The default is APA 7th style (https://libguides.mq.edu.au/APA7_referencing), but any of the five are acceptable.

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence Tools: Many students have experimented with AI tools to write or re-write their text. Read this advice: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessmentexams/academic-integrity/ai-tools and refer to iLearn for more information ("Using AI in this Unit" tab). Please use AI tools in a responsible manner to enhance, but not replace, your learning.

Submission of Assessments: Instructions and submission links for the assessments are provided in iLearn ("Assessments" tab). Do not submit written assessments via email. Due dates for all assessments are shown in the unit schedule on iLearn ("Unit Information" tab). If you have commitments that will significantly impact your study during the session then you must plan for this in advance as part of an effective individual study plan.

Automatic Short-Extensions: Students are able to request a short 3-day extension for Assessments 1 and 2. The short extensions are approved automatically and recorded, however, iLearn will still show the original due date for the assessment. The short-extensions do not apply to Assessment 3.

Marking of Assessments: Written assessments will be marked through Turnitin with feedback noted on the assignment. Assessment marks will be available via the Grades Report on iLearn. We aim to return your assessment grades and feedback within three weeks of the assessment due date and before the next assignment is due, although sometimes other factors can affect release dates, particularly late submissions due to short-extensions. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn when your marks and feedback are available for viewing.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty: Unless an extension has been approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration. 

Special Consideration: The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://connect.mq.edu.au.

Second Chance Strategy: Second chance strategies may be offered to you to ensure that you successfully complete the unit. Circumstances where this may apply are: if you fail an assessment, OR if you don't submit an assessment but remain engaged in the unit. The maximum grade for second chance attempts is 50 % and will be offered on a case-by-case basis. Students wishing to improve their mark where they have already passed the unit, will not be offered a second chance.

Week 1 classes: Lectures for this unit commence in Week 1. The practicals for this unit will commence in Week 2.

Methods of Communication: We will communicate with you through announcements on iLearn and possibly also your university email. General queries about the unit content can be placed on the iLearn discussion board.

If your query is of a personal nature, or if you want more privacy, please don't email us directly. Instead, post a message to the "Private Message to Unit Contacts" link (see "Communications" tab). This helps us to manage student queries and improves your response time.

Class Schedule: Students should check class availability with the Classfinder tool in eStudent. 

• This year, the lectures have been scheduled for 11 am -12 pm on Mondays starting in Week 1. The lectures are online. 
• Practical classes are held on-campus every week starting in Week 2.
• There is also a field trip to a site near to the MQ Campus which is scheduled in the practical times in Week 7- this is essential for Assessment 2.

A detailed Unit Schedule with the weekly topics and assessment task due dates in available on iLearn ("Unit Information" tab).

Note: the lectures will be recorded, but the pracs are delivered face to face and will NOT be recorded.

Learning activities: The unit is comprised of 12 weeks of lectures and practical classes, including a field trip to a local site. The format of the prac classes varies and includes mapping skills, writing skills workshops, data and communication skills workshops, group work and student presentations. As a result, it is essential that you attend all of classes and the field trip. 

In addition to the scheduled classes, you are also required to spend time doing your own independent reading and research with most of this time going towards completing the assessments. As a guide, you should aim to spend approximately 100 hours of your own time on the unit over the semester, in addition to the scheduled classes and field trip. This requires good planning on your part to ensure that you meet the assessment due dates.

Unit Organisation: The unit is organised into three modules:

• Module 1 - Australia's unique environment and the need to manage the impacts of people on the environment. This module examines some of the physical environmental management challenges posed by people and Australia's unique environment. For example, the impacts of bushfire management on vegetation communities, and the impacts of urban areas on streams.
• Module 2 - The role of policy, planning and legislation as effective tools in environmental protection and management. This module focuses on how policy, planning and legislation impacts on the environment through strategic planning, development controls and day-to-day decision-making. This module will tie together your understanding of the physical environment and some of the tools that are used to prevent or manage environmental impacts in urban areas.
• Module 3 - The importance of implementing strategies that engage people as part of the solution to environmental problems. This module explores several themes in environmental management and decision-making including, ways of engaging people in environmental protection and management issues, identifying stakeholders, negotiation and the decision-making processes that are used to resolve environmental conflicts. This module will demonstrate the social/political challenges and complexities of environmental management

Field trip: The unit includes a field trip to a local urban creek during your practical time in Week 7. The area is highly urban, and as a result, it is an ideal place to learn about the challenges caused by urban intensification and environmental management. We will observe environmental management issues, record data, and take notes which will be used in Assessment 2.

Note: There are no costs associated with this trip. You will need to meet onsite at the start of your practical class time, but the site is within walking distance from the MQ Campus. Field trip logistics will be discussed during the first weeks of class.

Field and Lab Work, Health and Safety: To minimise the risk of WHS accidents, you must wear appropriate clothing and footwear, and bring adequate water and food for the field trip. You must also wear closed shoes if working in the lab. Prior to the field trip, you will need to sign up to Field Friendly (via iLearn) so that you are covered by the university insurance during the trip. This sign-up is compulsory and if you haven't signed up by the closing date, you will not be permitted to attend. 

Technologies Used and Required: You will need to bring a computer to the practicals each week. We will use basic programs such as Word and Excel. You will also need a computer to use the university systems (e.g. iLearn, library) and complete the assessment tasks. Submissions of the assessment tasks will be through iLearn using Turnitin. Help with IT can be obtained at students.mq.edu.au/support/.

Background Reading: There is no single textbook for this course, and reading material for lectures will be provided on iLearn. Background reading can be found in the following:

• O'Riordan, T (1999) Environmental Science for Environmental Management, Taylor and Francis Ltd
• Aplin, G (2002), Australians and their Environment: An Introduction to Environmental Studies, Oxford University Press
• Huxham M and Sumner D (2000). Science and Environmental Decision Making, Pearson Education.
• Munasinghe M and Swart R (2005). Primer on Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Cambridge University Press.

Assessment Grading Standards: Grades for the written assessment tasks and the unit as a whole will be awarded according to a general rubric shown in the table below.

Changes from previous offerings: We value student feedback to be able to continually improve the way we offer our units. As such we encourage students to provide constructive feedback via student surveys, to the teaching staff directly, or via the FSE Student Experience & Feedback link in the iLearn page.

Student feedback from the previous offering of this unit was very positive overall, with students pleased with the clarity around assessment requirements and the level of support from teaching staff. As such, no change to the delivery of the unit is planned, however we will continue to strive to improve the level of support and the level of student engagement by altering the content to ensure the relevance of teaching materials. 

Assessment policy: To enable students more time to focus on learning, understanding and reflecting on the content of our unit we have revised the assessment structure as follows. There are now only three assessments: a skills assessment, report and final debate. Although no marks are associated with attendance, all activities provide you with key content designed to help you understand content and complete the assessments.