Unit Profile Correction added on 28-04-20
The end of term examination has now been changed to an alternate form of assessment. Please see your Moodle site for details of the assessment.
The Residential School for this unit has been postponed and you will need to complete this at a later date. Further details about the residential school will be made available on Moodle in due course.
Overview
On completion of this unit, you will have an understanding of the basic relationships between catchment health, water quality and ecosystem health in receiving waters. You should be able to explain the major threats to water quality and the ways to monitor and manage those threats through the monitoring of physical, chemical and biological parameters and through the preparation of water quality assessment plans. You must attend a compulsory residential school or on-campus lab classes in order to achieve the leaning outcomes.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: ENVR11012 Applications of Environmental Science Or CHEM11041 Chemistry for the Life Sciences
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
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).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
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
Assessment Overview
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.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
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 Moodle
The field trip was enjoyed by students. They found it interesting and good mix of topics. Students also appreciated the hands on experience with equipment used in industry.
Retain current workplace applicable elements of field trip and hands on experience with equipment for all students.
Feedback from Moodle
The students found the material presented was industry relevant.
With each offering, update the unit to align with modern knowledge, techniques and skills required in industry.
Feedback from Moodle
The students found the examination revision sessions helpful.
Continue with revision tutorials prior to the examination.
Feedback from Moodle
The students considered that residential school could have been more organised.
There is a standard schedule for the residential school and collaboration with local government organizations for various field trips. Whilst every attempt is made to reorganise around adverse weather events, the short time frame of the residential school and the organization required with other authorities does not make for easy modification. Continue with current residential school organization and explain in detail to students why some last minute changes may be required to suit weather conditions and fieldwork.
Feedback from Moodle
The students found the positioning of the water monitoring plan at the beginning of the semester difficult as it included information that had not encountered earlier.
The first assignment requires a steep learning curve from students. The recommendation and feedback that the water monitoring plan should be placed at the beginning of the semester should be reconsidered. There was a better feedback response from students in previous years when the water monitoring plan was positioned later in the semester.
- Describe the basic relationships between catchment health, water quality and end of catchment health
- Describe the major threats to instream and coastal water quality and the effects of land based pollutants on ecosystem health
- Explain the important physico-chemical and biological indicators of water quality and their application
- Discuss different management strategies to reduce diffuse and point source pollutants
- Apply appropriate standards and national guidelines, interpret data and results when designing a water quality assessment plan
- Work with others to assess water quality and ecosystem health in aquatic systems.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||||
| 4 - Examination - 50% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 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 - Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 25% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||||||||
| 4 - Examination - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
l.fabbro@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Week 1. Study Guide. Water as a resource
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 2. Study Guide. Project design, monitoring, quality assurance and reporting.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 3. Study Guide. Physical and chemical properties of water.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 4. Study Guide. Water pollutants and their sources
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 5. Study Guide. Microbiology of water
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 6 . Study Guide. Water and wastewater treatment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 7. Study Guide. Water quality standards, quality assurance and quality control.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 9. Study Guide. Integrated habitat assessment.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 10. Study Guide. Management of water resources.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Week 11. Study Guide. Catchment management.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Examination Review
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Design a monitoring plan for the waterway that is described in detail on the Moodle site. Identify the environmental stressors present in the system and discuss the field parameters and laboratory analyses that are relevant to them. Mention any health and safety issues that may be associated with the specific waterway. Complete the risk assessment that would also accompany this plan.
Maximum 2000 words
Week 6 Tuesday (21 Apr 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8 Tuesday (5 May 2020)
Discussion of the environmental values and water quality issues (35%)
Appropriate choice of parameters and analyses (35%)
Appropriate safety procedures (15%)
Clear writing style in correct English, accurate referencing, appropriate length and format (15%)
- Explain the important physico-chemical and biological indicators of water quality and their application
- Discuss different management strategies to reduce diffuse and point source pollutants
- Apply appropriate standards and national guidelines, interpret data and results when designing a water quality assessment plan
- Work with others to assess water quality and ecosystem health in aquatic systems.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
2 Practical and Written Assessment
There will be a practical and written component to this assessment.
Practical Exercise (5%)
You are required to calibrate water quality meters and correctly collect water samples. You will be required to answer questions on these activities.
Written Report (20%)
You will be required to complete a report sheet based on the residential school activities. A template with the information required and the questions that need to be answered will be provided on the Moodle site.
Week 11 Tuesday (26 May 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Tuesday (9 June 2020)
The practical exercise will be assessed on the ability to perform laboratory and field tasks in addition to correctly answering questions on these.
The report sheet will be assessed on the completeness and correctness of the answers.
- Describe the basic relationships between catchment health, water quality and end of catchment health
- Describe the major threats to instream and coastal water quality and the effects of land based pollutants on ecosystem health
- Explain the important physico-chemical and biological indicators of water quality and their application
- Discuss different management strategies to reduce diffuse and point source pollutants
- Apply appropriate standards and national guidelines, interpret data and results when designing a water quality assessment plan
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Practical Assessment
You are required to collect field samples and correctly complete a Chain of Custody Form that would be required in order to legally send these samples to a laboratory for further analysis. This is a competency based pass/fail assessment.
This task is assessed at the Residential School.
You will be assessed on the completeness, correct reference to samples collected and readability of the Chain of Custody Form.
- Work with others to assess water quality and ecosystem health in aquatic systems.
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
Examination
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?
