| Effective Term: | 2024/20 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Innovation, Science & Sustainability |
| Unit Title: | Sustainable Earth |
| Unit ID: | SCSUS1500 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | (SCENV1500) |
| ASCED: | 050999 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
| This course looks at the impact humans have had on the Earth. We address, in turn, the main components of the habitable parts of the planet and examine the fundamental, natural processes within each. With this grounding we then superimpose the impact of people, particularly the excesses of post-industrial humanity, upon the Earth to reveal the consequences of the activities of modern society. The course emphasizes that environmental sustainability requires an understanding, not only of the processes that can be identified today, but of the rate, sequence and nature of changes which have taken place in our recent past. Further, that environmental sustainability demands consideration, not only of environmental processes, but also the social and political constraints to change. The course provides an opportunity to take stock of where we currently are and how we can plan for a more sustainable, equitable and regenerative future. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: No |
| Supplementary Assessment: |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | |  | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | | | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Students undertaking this unit are expected to be able to demonstrate the following knowledge and skills. |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Recognise Australian and global environmental management processes and issues |
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| K2. | Describe and evaluate the process of ecologically sustainable development and implications for natural resource management |
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| K3. | Investigate the processes that have lead to recent climate and environmental change |
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| K4. | Explore positive steps that can be made at local, regional and global levels toward a sustainable future |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Ability to source and critically assess popular and peer-reviewed scientific literature |
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| S2. | Identify and evaluate human impact on the landscape |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Evaluate competing scientific arguments, including questioning prior assumptions |
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| A2. | Communicate complex environmental issues to a lay audience in both oral and written forms |
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| A3. | Scrutinise choices made in daily life that can contribute to a sustainable future |
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| Unit Content: |
•Environmental problems
•Natural capital
•Climate change
•Hazards and pollution
•Environmental economics
•Environmental law |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | Learning outcomes
(KSA) | Assessment task
(AT#) | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate, inter-act and work with others both individually and in groups. Students will be required to display skills in-person and/or online in: • Using effective verbal and non-verbal communication • Listening for meaning and influencing via active listening • Showing empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams. | K2, A2 | AT2 | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply professional skills and behaviours in leading others. Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating a collegial environment • Showing self -awareness and the ability to self-reflect • Inspiring and convincing others • Making informed decisions • Displaying initiative | Not applicable | Not applicable | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complexity and ambiguity using the imagination to create new ideas. Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically • Evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Considering alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts • Forming creative solutions in problem solving. | K4, S1, A1, A3 | AT2, AT4 | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work fluently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks. Students will be required to display skills in: • Finding, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and sharing digital information • Collating, managing, accessing and using digital data securely • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Contributing actively to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and benefiting from digital learning opportunities. | Not applicable | Not applicable | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to consider and assess the consequences and impact of ideas and actions in enacting ethical and sustainable decisions. Students will be required to display skills in: • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in global economic environmental and societal contexts • Committing to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Evaluating ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable challenges and generating and articulating responses • Embracing lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Implementing required actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | K2, K3, K4, S2, A3 | AT2, AT3, AT4 |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K3, S2 | Practical exercises worked through in class | Practical reports | 10-30% | | 2. | K1, K2, K3, K4, S1, S2, A1, A2, A3 | Group presentation to tutorial class | Oral presentation | 20-40% | | 3. | K1, S1, S2, A3 | Written report | Research report | 20-40% | | 4. | K1, K2, K3, K4 | Short and extended answer | Test | 10-30% |
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