CQUniversity Unit Profile
GEOG11024 Conservation in Australia
Conservation in Australia
All details in this unit profile for GEOG11024 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
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

If Australia lost the Great Barrier Reef – would we care? In this unit you will explore concepts and processes that drive environmental conservation in Australia. You will investigate the international context and legal frameworks of conservation as well as the environmental reporting of the Australian government. You will be immersed in case studies that relate to current conservation issues.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 1
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
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

Online
Rockhampton

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. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 30%
2. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 30%
3. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%

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 Self-reflection

Feedback

keeping the unit content current

Recommendation

The unit coordinator will continue improving the content of the unit.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain the international and legal contexts for Australian government environment reporting;
  2. Identify and evaluate specific conservation issues in Australia.
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
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2
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 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 40%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

Additional Textbook Information

Study material for the unit will be provided on the moodle.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Micorsoft Office
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Jiaping Wu Unit Coordinator
j.wu@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 09 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Conservation in historical perspective

Chapter

SOE2016 Overview

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1 available.

Note: The 3 quizzes will be opened and closed in different weeks during the term. Please mark the opening and closing dates in your calendar.

Week 2 Begin Date: 16 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Nature and society

Chapter

SOE2016 Approach

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 23 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

The changing Australian environment

Chapter

SOE2016 Drivers

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 30 Mar 2020

Module/Topic

Reducing our carbon footprints

Chapter

SOE2016 Atmosphere report

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 1 cuts off
Week 5 Begin Date: 06 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

A hierarchy of conservation strategies

Chapter

SOE2016 Built environment report

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 2 available.

Vacation Week Begin Date: 13 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 20 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

The desertification of Australia

Chapter

SOE2016 Land report

Events and Submissions/Topic

Reflective writing #1 due

Week 7 Begin Date: 27 Apr 2020

Module/Topic

Biodiversity and wildlife management

Chapter

SOE2016 Biodiversity report

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 04 May 2020

Module/Topic

Protected areas as instruments (I): Management of Kakadu national park

Chapter

SOE2016 Coasts report

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 2 cuts off

Week 9 Begin Date: 11 May 2020

Module/Topic

Protected areas as instruments (II): Management of Eungella national park

Chapter

SOE2016 Inland Waters report

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 3 available.

Week 10 Begin Date: 18 May 2020

Module/Topic

Conserving our cultural heritage

Chapter

SOE2016 Heritage report

Events and Submissions/Topic

Reflective writing #2 due

Week 11 Begin Date: 25 May 2020

Module/Topic

Sustainability

Chapter

SOE2016 Marine Environment report

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 01 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Conservation as social change

Chapter

SOE2016 Antarctic Environment report

Events and Submissions/Topic

Quiz 3 cuts off


Term Paper Due: Week 12 Friday (5 June 2020) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 08 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 15 Jun 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quizzes

Task Description

This assessment consists of 3 online quizzes. Each of the quizzes has 10 multiple choice questions. You need to select the most appropriate answer from the given options.

Detailed information about the quiz(zes) and how to complete them is provided in the moodle site of the unit.


Number of Quizzes

3


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Further due date description in the unit Moodle site.


Return Date to Students

The online quiz will be marked automatically following submission.


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Quiz will be marked automatically. Each question will be marked 'correct' if you chose the right answer. Scores are based on the number of correct answers only. There are no marks deducted for incorrect responses.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Quizzes are submitted online in the unit's Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the international and legal contexts for Australian government environment reporting;
  • Identify and evaluate specific conservation issues in Australia.


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

2 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Reflective writing

Task Description

This assessment consists of 2 pieces of reflective writing. Each of the writings should be 450-550 words in length.

  • Writing #1 is to describe and discuss one environmental issue (e.g. invasive species, loss biodiversity, deforestation, soil erosion, land degradation, pollution, CO2 emission, or social and economic developments that might lead to negative environmental consequences etc.) and how this issue was presented in your local areas and how it could be managed more effectively. This writing will be due by Friday of week 6.
  • Writing #2 should describe and discuss the conservation state of an endangered species or an ecosystem (or a national park, a protected area, a natural and cultural heritage or a kind of natural resource etc.) and how it could be conserved better. This piece of writing is due by Friday of week 10.

Detailed instructions will be provided in the unit's moodle site.


Number of Quizzes

2


Frequency of Quizzes


Assessment Due Date

The due dates and times for each forum are noted above.


Return Date to Students

Each of the assessment will be marked and returned in two weeks after its due date


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Each piece of the writings will be assessed on basis of: 1) the quality of description and reflection of the issue; and 2) the ability to relate what have been learnt from the unit to the issues or situations of study.

See details marking criteria in the Moodle site of the unit.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the international and legal contexts for Australian government environment reporting;
  • Identify and evaluate specific conservation issues in Australia.


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

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Term Paper

Task Description

Write a term research paper about a choosing environmental issue of Australia. In the paper, you should apply the PSR (Pressure-State-Response) model or equivalent frameworks to examine the issue and discuss

  • causes (or drivers) of the issue
  • conditions and trends of the issue
  • current management (or conservation) efforts

The paper should be 2,000 -2,500 words in length (The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last word of the conclusion. It excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference page and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.)


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (5 June 2020) 11:45 pm AEST

Online submission


Return Date to Students

The assessment will be marked and returned in two weeks or as soon as practicable through the Moodle site.


Weighting
40%

Assessment Criteria

Your paper will be assessed on the basis of:

  • development of ideas
  • quality of environmental analysis, including application of the PSR model
  • quality of the research evidence
  • quality of written expression and presentation.

See more details of marking criteria in the unit's Moodle site.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
An online submission link is provided in the unit's Moodle site.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Explain the international and legal contexts for Australian government environment reporting;
  • Identify and evaluate specific conservation issues in Australia.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Information Technology Competence
  • 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?