Overview
Positive Learning for University introduces you to a variety of concepts through the framework of Positive Psychology. Techniques will be taught to: enhance clarity and identify personal meaning and values; increase optimism through changes in thinking; consider how gratitude and mindfulness improve personal well-being; identify personal strengths; provide opportunities to develop positive relationships; improve communication skills; and integrate healthy living to ensure a healthy environment for study. Through a mixture of theory, practical activities and reflection, you will demonstrate how personal attitudes and ways of thinking affect your learning, and you will consider solutions to the challenges that may be encountered in higher education. Additionally, in order to navigate an online world, you will be introduced to a number of technology platforms that will further support your learning and assist you to demonstrate understanding of concepts using technology.
Details
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 2 - 2019
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).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Non-award 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 Unit evaluation
Some resources are no longer available via the links provided online
Check currency of resources on Moodle and update links as required.
Feedback from Unit evaluation
Inconsistency between portfolio tasks and the portfolio template
Update Reflective Portfolio assessment description and template to ensure consistency.
Feedback from Unit evaluation
Video materials need updating, especially the video tutorials
Continue to develop new video content.
Feedback from Self reflection
Would like the unit to have a textbook or printable study guide
Asses the feasibility of developing a textbook to be used from 2020.
- identify the key principles that underpin Positive Psychology
- apply positive strategies and techniques to enhance learning and personal success
- reflect on how Positive Psychology concepts affect learning
- navigate online technologies to promote engagement and share knowledge
- apply Positive Psychology concepts to real life contexts
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10% | |||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 20% | |||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 40% | |||||
| 4 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Self Management | |||||
| 2 - Communication | |||||
| 3 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 4 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 5 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 6 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 7 - Cross-Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical Practice | |||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | |||||
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) - 10% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 20% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||||||||
| 4 - Practical and Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Access to personal computer
- Webcam (inc microphone) required for Zoom Session
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
v.walters@cqu.edu.au
Module 1: Introduction to Positive Psychology and the CHOOSE model
Begin Date: 15 Jul 2019Module/Topic
Introduction to Positive Psychology and the CHOOSE model
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 2: Positive Life - Know where you are going - Learn from where you have been
Begin Date: 22 Jul 2019Module/Topic
Positive Life - Know where you are going - Learn from where you have been
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 3: Positive Health - Reaping the benefits of a healthy lifestyle
Begin Date: 29 Jul 2019Module/Topic
Positive Health - Reaping the benefits of a healthy lifestyle
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 4: Positive Emotions - Developing positive emotions for a positive outlook
Begin Date: 05 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Positive Emotions - Developing positive emotions for a positive outlook
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 5: Optimism - Always look on the bright side of life
Begin Date: 12 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Optimism - Always look on the bright side of life
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 19 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 6: Optimism - Education to personal empowerment
Begin Date: 26 Aug 2019Module/Topic
Optimism - Education to personal empowerment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 7: Positive Strengths - Using your best to make you better
Begin Date: 02 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Positive Strengths - Using your best to make you better
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 8: Stress & Resilience - Making molehills out of mountains
Begin Date: 09 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Stress & Resilience - Making molehills out of mountains
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 9: Positive Relationships - Gaining perspective on life, yourself and others
Begin Date: 16 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Positive Relationships - Gaining perspective on life, yourself and others
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 10: Positive Communication - Communicating with others
Begin Date: 23 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Positive Communication - Communicating with others
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 11: Self-empowerment - Be inspired to flourish
Begin Date: 30 Sep 2019Module/Topic
Self-empowerment - Be inspired to flourish
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module 12: Enjoyment - Enjoy the moment
Begin Date: 07 Oct 2019Module/Topic
Enjoyment - Enjoy the moment
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 14 Oct 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Exam Week
Begin Date: 21 Oct 2019Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
I am Vikki Walters, the Unit Coordinator, support lecturer and marker for this unit (otherwise known as PLU).
You can contact me via email at v.walters@cqu.edu.au or by phone (07) 5440 7042. I am located on the Noosa campus
1 Online Quiz(zes)
After reading Module 1 and the additional reading “The new science of happiness” (both accessible through Moodle), you will be required to complete a quiz to demonstrate your understanding of the principles behind Positive Psychology and what research has found to support this theory.
This quiz is an open book test which means you may have these resources on hand to assist you when responding to the questions. The quiz is located on Moodle in the ‘Assessment’ block on the left-hand side. You will be given 2 hours to complete this quiz and you only have one attempt to complete the 20 questions.
Do not attempt this quiz until you have:
1) Completed reading both Module 1 and the additional reading “The new science of happiness”
2) Ensured you have a steady internet connection
3) Allowed the full two hours to complete the quiz (if required)
1
Week 2 Friday (26 July 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 2 Friday (26 July 2019)
Results will be provided automatically on completion of the quiz
This quiz assesses your understanding of the key concepts around Positive Psychology from Module 1.
- identify the key principles that underpin Positive Psychology
- Self Management
- Information Technology Competence
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Ethical Practice
2 Portfolio
From Week 2 to Week 4, there will be weekly tasks to complete for the Reflective Portfolio.
A template is provided for you to fill with your responses to the weekly reflective tasks. Title it Reflective Portfolio A for submission. These weekly tasks can be accessed through the weekly Module blocks or through the Assessment Overview tab on Moodle.
In order to complete each task, you will need to reflect on the material in the study guide as well as the additional material provided on the Positive Learning for University Moodle site and apply the content to your current situation as a student. There may be some activities for which additional information in the form of worksheets, articles, websites or other resources may be required.
Upload the final word document to Moodle through the 'Assessment' block on the left hand side of Moodle.
Full details of these tasks are available on Moodle under the Assessment Overview tab.
Week 5 Friday (16 Aug 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 6 Friday (30 Aug 2019)
You will be assessed according to the quality and depth of your responses. The criteria that will guide the marker includes:
- Completion of all reflective portfolio tasks
- Demonstrated understanding of each concept
- Depth of thinking and evidence of ability to apply concepts to life
You are expected to write in an academic style using complete sentences when responding to questions and reference all sources using Harvard style referencing.
- apply positive strategies and techniques to enhance learning and personal success
- reflect on how Positive Psychology concepts affect learning
- Self Management
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Cross-Cultural Competence
- Ethical Practice
3 Portfolio
From Week 5 to Week 8, there will be weekly tasks to complete for Reflective Portfolio B. These tasks will ask you to reflect on the Positive Psychology content and write a response.
A template is provided for you to fill with your responses to the weekly reflective tasks. Title the template Reflective Portfolio B for submission. These weekly tasks can be accessed through the weekly Module blocks or through the Assessment Overview tab on Moodle.
In order to complete each task, you will need to reflect on the material in the study guide as well as the additional material provided on the Positive Learning for University Moodle site and apply the content to your current situation as a student. There may be some activities for which additional information in the form of worksheets, articles, websites or other resources may be required.
Upload the final word document to Moodle through the 'Assessment' block on the left-hand side of Moodle.
Full details of these tasks are available on Moodle under the Assessment Overview tab.
Week 9 Friday (20 Sept 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (4 Oct 2019)
You will be assessed according to the quality and depth of your responses. The criteria that will guide the marker includes:
- Completion of all workbook tasks
- Demonstrated understanding of each concept
- Depth of thinking and evidence of the ability to apply concepts to life
You are expected to write in an academic style using complete sentences when responding to questions and reference all sources using Harvard style referencing.
- apply positive strategies and techniques to enhance learning and personal success
- reflect on how Positive Psychology concepts affect learning
- navigate online technologies to promote engagement and share knowledge
- Self Management
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Cross-Cultural Competence
- Ethical Practice
4 Practical and Written Assessment
In order to demonstrate your understanding of the theory of Positive Psychology, you have 3 options to choose from for the final assessment task. These three options have specific criteria that align to each one. Please read through the descriptions below and then go to the Assessment Overview Tab on Moodle for more explicit details.
Educational Campaign: As you reflect on the past term, you will notice that there have been many theories and strategies presented to you in order to assist you in becoming a more positive student and person. Your task is to choose a concept that has been covered this term and develop an Educational Campaign to further expand on this subject.
Motivational Video: This task requires you to create an inspirational video that aligns to one of the modules. Within this inspirational/motivational video, each of the key elements within that Module needs to be presented in a positive and encouraging manner using technology to present the key message.
Random Acts of Kindness: This summative task consists of an applied element alongside a reflection of current research. Random Acts of Kindness is an approach taught within the realm of positive psychology and is instrumental in creating well-being and a sense of satisfaction for those doing the act of kindness. This task requires you to dedicate some time to completing some Random Acts of Kindness and then reflect upon this experience. In addition, you will read some current research findings on the benefits of altruism.
Full details on each of these are available on Moodle. Once you have chosen the task, please email the Unit Coordinator with your decision.
Week 12 Friday (11 Oct 2019) 11:55 pm AEST
Exam Week Friday (25 Oct 2019)
The three options have specific criteria that align to each one. These criteria can be found on Moodle alongside the Assessment description.
You will be assessed according to the quality and depth of your responses. The criteria that guide the marker includes:
-
Completion of all tasks outlined in the Assessment description
-
Demonstrated understanding of the Positive Psychology concepts
-
Demonstrated ability to apply concepts using technology
You are expected to write in an academic style using complete sentences when responding to questions and reference all sources using Harvard style referencing.
- navigate online technologies to promote engagement and share knowledge
- apply Positive Psychology concepts to real life contexts
- Self Management
- Communication
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Cross-Cultural Competence
- Ethical Practice
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?
