| Assessment |
| Title |
Exam Length |
Weight |
Mode |
No. Words |
| Assignment 1 |
|
17%
|
|
1500 |
| Assessment Notes |
| EMS assignment |
|
| Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and
Graduate Attributes (GA) |
| LO: 1-3, 5, 6
GA: 1,3, 4, 7 |
| Assignment 2 |
|
33%
|
|
2000 |
| Assessment Notes |
| Master assignment: negotiated topic |
|
| Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and
Graduate Attributes (GA) |
| LO: 1-3, 5, 6
GA: 1, 3, 4, 7 |
| Online Assessment |
|
3%
|
|
|
| Assessment Notes |
| online multiple choice test (Topics 1-10) |
|
| Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and
Graduate Attributes (GA) |
| LO: 1-3, 5
GA: 1, 3, 7 |
| Presentation |
|
7%
|
|
|
| Assessment Notes |
| seminar presentation |
|
| Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and
Graduate Attributes (GA) |
| LO: 2, 3, 5, 6
GA: 1-4, 7 |
| Report |
|
17%
|
|
1500 |
| Assessment Notes |
| monitoring report |
|
| Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and
Graduate Attributes (GA) |
| LO: 2, 4, 5, 6
GA: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 |
| Unit Test |
|
3%
|
|
|
| Assessment Notes |
| multiple choice test (Topics 11-25) |
|
| Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and
Graduate Attributes (GA) |
| LO: 1-3, 5
GA: 1, 3, 7 |
|
| Final Examination |
2 hrs
|
20%
|
|
|
| Relates to Learning Outcomes (LO) and
Graduate Attributes (GA) |
| LO: 1-3, 5, 6
GA: 1, 3, 7 |
|
| Learning Outcomes (LO) |
Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to:
-
compare and contrast the major biophysical, economic and social sustainability issues facing Australian land managers and land holders;
-
discuss and justify adaptive management, environmental management systems (EMSs) and current, best-management practices (BMPs) in sustainability performance of certain industries and individual land managers;
-
explain policy options (regulatory, economic, social, technological, biophysical) open to governments, land management agencies and land managers for improving sustainability outcomes, and analyse their strengths and weaknesses;
-
demonstrate measurement skills for sustainability monitoring, and analytical skills for interpreting the data;
-
synthesise current technical information about particular aspects of sustainable land management, identify strengths and weaknesses in particular land management practices or sustainability strategies, and formulate sound recommendations to for example: growers, farmer groups, government authorities, urban residents, and land management organisations;
-
demonstrate professional oral presentation skills, research and report writing skills.
|
| Graduate Attributes (GA) |
|
Attribute |
Taught |
Assessed |
Practised |
| 1 |
Knowledge of a Discipline
Students are provided with detailed information about sustainable land management and the information is taught and presented in a variety of formats (powerpoint slides, presentations, written notes, pdf readings etc.) to aid learning. Students are assessed on their knowledge of this material by means of multiple-choice questions (2 per semester) and a Master level assignment. They practise their understanding of the knowledge by using it to explain paddock information to farmers (on-campus students) or the unit coordinator (off-campus students) in the assessed practical component of the unit.
|
|
|
|
| 2 |
Communication Skills
Assessed via seminar presentation where students present their findings on a case study. Principles of good presentation technique and practice are provided (taught).
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
Global Perspectives
The unit provides a global perspective on the history of the concept of sustainability and international initiatives to address the main barriers to adopting sustainability. The global perspective is assessed by means of a written examination.
|
|
|
|
| 4 |
Information Literacy
The ability of students to source important literature and other information sources is assessed in two written assignments. Since the unit is for Master coursework students, it is assumed that students are already literate in searching for the requisite information.
|
|
|
|
| 5 |
Life-Long Learning
The importance of the concept of sustainability for people's everyday activities is stressed throughout the unit. The knowledge taught in the unit thus equips students with information relevant to the personal behaviour throughout their lives.
|
|
|
|
| 6 |
Problem Solving
Assessed via the Group Monitoring Report where students are asked to measure criteria relevant to the sustainability of the operation of actual farms and provide suggestions for addressing issues and making improvements on the property(ies).
|
|
|
|
| 7 |
Social Responsibility
Students are taught about and assessed on the social implications of farming practices and current social problems within Australian rural communities. They practise engaging with farmers and explaining the significance of sustainability measurements on those people's farms (on-campus students), or reporting their sustainability recommendations to the University's farm managers (off-campus students).
|
|
|
|
| 8 |
Team Work
Students undertake a group Monitoring project which requires students working together to achieve the common goal of reporting on the sustainability issues affecting actual properties and the practices in place or suggested practices to address these issues. They are taught a practical tool for assessing individual team management behaviours, and what to expect of people with different preferences and abilities in respect to team work.
|
|
|
|
|
