CQUniversity Unit Profile
EDCU12041 Sustainability through Active Citizenship
Sustainability through Active Citizenship
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The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

Sustainability through Active Citizenship focuses on strategies and processes that educators can use to achieve the stated goal of the Melbourne Declaration of supporting young Australians to develop as active, informed citizens. Students explore issues related to Citizenship Education within the context of multicultural society and the lived experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and identify pedagogical practices for modelling democratic process in classroom settings. They develop understanding of sustainability as an issue involving values education and apply democratic and participatory processes to enact a group decision-making and planning task related to action for sustainable futures. Individually, students reflect on the relevance of the strategies and processes for use in primary school classrooms in terms of their potential for educating learners to achieve the goal of active, informed citizenship and to value participation in communities and groups for creating sustainable futures.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 7
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

There are no requisites for this unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2020

Bundaberg
Cairns
Mackay
Noosa
Online
Rockhampton
Townsville

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Practical Assessment
Weighting: 50%
2. Group Work
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student evaluations

Feedback

Moodle site well structured and reference lists appreciated

Recommendation

Maintain current Moodle site structure but update as appropriate with current literature and include these new references in the reference lists.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Critique approaches to Citizenship Education to evaluate the use of inclusive strategies and the perspectives and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultural and social minority groups
  2. Recommend teaching strategies that develop positive dispositions towards active citizenship and participatory democratic process for primary school-aged learners
  3. Justify the use of strategies for establishing respectful learning environments in which individual and group differences are valued
  4. Assess and critically reflect on learning processes to explain how they promote engagement and participation, improve student learning and develop positive values towards creating sustainable futures
  5. Select and use resources that support higher order thinking and facilitate effective group participation, planning and decision-making processes.

Successful completion of this unit provides opportunities for students to engage with the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Graduate Career Stage) focus areas of:

1.1 Physical, social and intellectual development and characteristics of students

1.2 Understand how students learn

1.3 Students with diverse linguistic, cultural, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds

1.4 Strategies for teaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students

2.1 Content and teaching strategies of the teaching area

2.4 Understand and respect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to promote reconciliation between Indigenous and non Indigenous Australians

3.4 Select and use resources

4.1 Support student participation

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Practical Assessment - 50%
2 - Group Work - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Practical Assessment - 50%
2 - Group Work - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Teaching Humanities and Social Sciences: Teaching and learning across Australia

Edition: Seven (2020)
Authors: Rob Gilbert, Libby Tudball, Peter Brett (Editors)
Cengage
South Melbourne South Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
ISBN: 9780170424165
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

This text will also be used for EDCU12042 History Curriculum and Pedagogy and EDCU14033 Geography. Copies can be purchased from the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Audacity or other MP3
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Karena Menzie-Ballantyne Unit Coordinator
k.menzie-ballantyne@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 09 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Active and informed citizenship

Chapter

Chapter 15

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 16 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Civics Education - the 'informed' component

Chapter

Chapter 15

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 23 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Experiences of citizenship of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other cultural minorities

Chapter

Chapter 16

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 30 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Effective pedagogy in citizenship education

Chapter

Chapters 4 & 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 06 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Educating for Global Citizenship

Chapter

Chapter 1, Chapter 2 pages 41-55,              & Chapter 7 pages 181-184

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 13 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Podcast Due: Vacation Week Monday (13 Apr 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 6 Begin Date: 20 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Democratic process and the skills of consensus

Chapter

Set readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 27 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Defining Sustainability

Chapter

Chapter 18

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 May 2020

Module/Topic

Education for Sustainable Development

Chapter

Chapter 18

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 11 May 2020

Module/Topic

Engaging with community to balance wants and needs

Chapter

Chapter 14

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 May 2020

Module/Topic

The role of values in Education for Sustainable Development

Chapter

Chapter 7

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 May 2020

Module/Topic

Effective pedagogy in Education for Sustainable Development 

Chapter

Chapters 3 & 18

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 01 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Unit review

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 08 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Sustainability Action Plan Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (8 June 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 15 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Practical Assessment

Assessment Title
Podcast

Task Description

For this assessment, you will need to create a podcast of no longer than 10 minutes using Audacity (or another MP3 tool). Instructions on how to download Audacity and use this free online program will be on the Unit Moodle site.

A national radio station runs a regular session called 'Education Views Today'. They have asked you to record a response to the question: What is the best way to teach civics and citizenship in primary schools in an effort to achieve the Alice Springs Declaration's goal that all Australian students should be active and informed members of their local and global community?

Your response should present a persuasive and concise argument, based on research, evaluating past and present approaches to pedagogy, classroom practice and/or whole of school initiatives.

Your response should also demonstrate your understanding of the experiences of citizenship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and how concepts of citizenship and approaches to civics and citizenship education could marginalise cultural minorities.

In addition to the podcast, you will need to upload an annotated bibliography of the reference material used to inform your presentation. Examples of annotated bibliographies will be provided on the Unit Moodle site.


Assessment Due Date

Vacation Week Monday (13 Apr 2020) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Tuesday (5 May 2020)

Feedback on this assessment will be provided in sufficient time to allow for academic support and advice as necessary to inform students’ responses to the next assessment task.


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

Critical analysis of past and present approaches to teaching civics and citizenship, including global citizenship

Demonstrated understanding of how concepts of citizenship and/or citizenship education can marginalise cultural minorities

Demonstrated understanding of the experiences of citizenship for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Selection and use of relevant literature

Effective use of oral techniques and persuasive arguments


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critique approaches to Citizenship Education to evaluate the use of inclusive strategies and the perspectives and experience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultural and social minority groups
  • Recommend teaching strategies that develop positive dispositions towards active citizenship and participatory democratic process for primary school-aged learners
  • Justify the use of strategies for establishing respectful learning environments in which individual and group differences are valued


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

2 Group Work

Assessment Title
Sustainability Action Plan

Task Description

In groups of approximately 10, you will use democratic process to develop a sustainability action plan that could be enacted in a regional community, a school or other specific locality. Your group must document rules and procedures for managing conflict, reaching consensus and making decisions that show consideration of the perspectives of all members and make provision for their active involvement in the planning process. In addition, each group must document the processes and literature used to develop their plan.

Each group member will be asked to complete a short peer assessment (approximately 50 words per person) assessing each of the other group members  in terms of their participation and demonstration of active citizenship.

Each group member will also write a reflection (no more than 1200 words) identifying how the processes used in this assessment might be effective in developing active citizenship and positive attitudes to sustainability in primary classrooms.

Each group member will therefore submit:

  • a full list of group members including names and student numbers
  • 
a copy of their group's rules and procedures
  • 
a copy of their group's sustainability action plan (including documented evidence of the research and processes used to develop it)

  • peer assessments of each of the other group members
  • 
a reflection on how processes used in this assessment might be effective in primary classrooms to develop active citizenship and positive attitudes towards sustainability

Although this is a group assessment, individual grades will be awarded.


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Monday (8 June 2020) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Feedback on this final assessment response will be provided following moderation and prior to the Date of Certification of Grades for the term.


Weighting
50%

Assessment Criteria

Understanding of procedures for achieving group consensus and democratic process

Understanding of sustainability as a balance between competing stakeholder viewpoints

Understanding of the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainability


Ability to assess the participation and active citizenship of other group members

Ability to apply learning experiences to the pedagogy of civics and citizenship education


Ability to apply learning experiences to the pedagogy of education for sustainable development


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Assess and critically reflect on learning processes to explain how they promote engagement and participation, improve student learning and develop positive values towards creating sustainable futures
  • Select and use resources that support higher order thinking and facilitate effective group participation, planning and decision-making processes.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Team Work
  • Cross Cultural Competence
  • Ethical practice

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?