CQUniversity Unit Profile
SOWK13011 Community Practice
Community Practice
All details in this unit profile for SOWK13011 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

This unit is designed so that you are be able to compare different approaches to community practice and provide the relevant knowledge and skills to critically analyse contexts for community work. You will develop appropriate strategic responses in a range of differing community contexts, including different cultural contexts and from an international perspective. You will develop an understanding of social innovation and the use of social entrepreneurship and social enterprise within communities.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Students will need to have successfully completed 48 credit points.

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

Online

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 discussion forum
Weighting: 30%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 35%
3. Report
Weighting: 35%

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 'Have your say'

Feedback

Please, add the weeks to the module headings

Recommendation

The week number will be added to the start of all module headings.

Feedback from 'Have you say'

Feedback

Zoom sessions to discuss assessments

Recommendation

Zoom sessions for discussion of assessment topics will be introduced.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Critique ideas of community and a range of community work models for practice.
  2. Compare a range of strategies that provide useful outcomes for specified community based contexts and evaluate their usefulness.
  3. Integrate cultural competency skills working within the community including working within Indigenous communities
  4. Explain how social innovation is used within communities.


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
1 - Online discussion forum - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 35%
3 - Report - 35%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
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 discussion forum - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 35%
3 - Report - 35%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Community Development in an Uncertain World

(2016)
Authors: Jim Ife
Cambridge University Press
Melbourne Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

Paper copies can be purchased at 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)
Referencing Style

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

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Davina Taylor Unit Coordinator
d.taylor@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 15 Jul 2019

Module/Topic

Overview of community practice        

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 22 Jul 2019

Module/Topic

Approaches to community-led development

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 29 Jul 2019

Module/Topic

Emerging perspective of community development

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 05 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Social innovation within communities

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 12 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Community economic development

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 19 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Explore your own community

Chapter


Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 26 Aug 2019

Module/Topic

Community development in Australia

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Analysis of Community Practice Due: Week 6 Monday (26 Aug 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 7 Begin Date: 02 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Community development around the world

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 8 Begin Date: 09 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Continue from Week 7

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Discussion (500 words each) Due: Week 8 Monday (9 Sept 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9 Begin Date: 16 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Alternative movements to social action

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 23 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Continue from Week 9

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 30 Sep 2019

Module/Topic

Technology and how it is changing community practice

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 07 Oct 2019

Module/Topic

Review and reflection

Chapter

Resources available on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Role of a Community Practitioner Due: Week 12 Monday (7 Oct 2019) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 14 Oct 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 21 Oct 2019

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online discussion forum

Assessment Title
Online Discussion (500 words each)

Task Description

Length: 1500 words

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 list and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.

Format: Three online forum posts and one word document uploaded to Moodle.

This assessment requires you to demonstrate your understanding and engagement with the weekly topics. You will need to make an online forum posting for weeks 3, 5 and 7, in response to that week's question. Each posting should be approximately 500 words and appropriately referenced. Your posting needs to thoughtfully address the week's question/s which are outlined in the forum. The posting should provide a brief outline of the information you have gathered, together with your own opinion or viewpoint. Where appropriate, consider how the strategies, referred to in the weekly questions, could be used in your community.


All three posts need to be uploaded as one word document for marking


Assessment Due Date

Week 8 Monday (9 Sept 2019) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 10 Friday (27 Sept 2019)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

HD (85-100) D (75-84) C (65-74) P (50-64) F (0-49)
Posting well researched and considered answers to all three online activities (25%) Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the three  topics Demonstrates a good understanding of the three topics Demonstrates an adequate understanding of the three  topics Demonstrated a limited understanding of the three  topics Fails to demonstrate an understanding of the topics
Synthesis and integration of literature and unit material within the posting (25%) Consistently integrates up-to-date literature to support and reflect all ideas and factual information Generally integrates up-to-date literature to support and reflect all ideas and factual information with 1 or 2 exceptions Generally integrates up-to-date literature to support and reflect all ideas and factual information with 3 or 4 exceptions Occasionally integrates up-to-date literature to support and reflect all ideas and factual information with 5 or 6 exceptions Fails or infrequently attempts to integrate up-to-date literature to support and reflect all ideas and factual information
Clear written expression and correct spelling (25%) Consistently accurate with spelling and grammar. 1-2 errors with spelling and grammar 3-4 errors with spelling and grammar. 5-6 errors with spelling and grammar Many consistent errors with spelling and grammar.
Adequate and appropriate referencing (Harvard) (25%) Excellent and appropriate referencing  Very good and appropriate referencing with 1-2 errors Good referencing with 3-4 errors Adequate referencing with 5-6 errors Inadequate and inappropriate referencing


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please, post to the relevant forum and upload one word document to 'Assessment 1 Submission'

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Compare a range of strategies that provide useful outcomes for specified community based contexts and evaluate their usefulness.
  • Explain how social innovation is used within communities.


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

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Analysis of Community Practice

Task Description

Length: 1500 words

The word count is considered from the first word of the introduction to the last work of the conclusion, it excludes the cover page, abstract, contents page, reference list and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.

Format: Written essay

This essay requires you to critically analyse and compare two of the community development approaches or perspectives introduced in the first half of the term. The assessment will facilitate your in-depth understanding of community practice and assist in your skills to critically analyse different practice perspectives. You are required to submit a written essay of approximately 1500 words. Your paper will be an analysis of two community development perspectives and then a discussion of the differences and similarities between the approaches. You are encouraged to choose approaches outlined in the unit material but if there is another approach that you wish to focus on you may do so. You are also asked to consider the implications of adopting these approached when working within Australian communities today, making particular reference to working within Indigenous communities.


Assessment Due Date

Week 6 Monday (26 Aug 2019) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 8 Friday (13 Sept 2019)


Weighting
35%

Assessment Criteria



HD (85-100)D (75-84)C (65-74)P (50-64)F (0-49)
Ability to outline two relevant community development approaches, including its theoretical underpinnings (30%)Demonstrates a thorough understanding of two approaches to community developmentDemonstrates a good understanding of two approaches to community developmentDemonstrates an adequate understanding of two approaches to community developmentDemonstrates a limited understanding of two approaches to community developmentFails to demonstrate an understanding of two approaches to community development
Ability to critically analyse and compare both approaches (25%)Demonstrates an excellent analysis and comparisonDemonstrates good analysis and comparisonDemonstrates an adequate analysis and comparisonDemonstrates a limited analysis and comparisonFails to demonstrate an analysis or comparison
Ability to explain both approaches usefulness and applicability for working with Australian communities, particularly Indigenous communities (25%)Demonstrates an excellent understanding of the application of both approachesDemonstrates a good understanding of the application of both approachesDemonstrates an adequate understanding of the application of both approachesDemonstrates a limited understanding of the application of both approachesFails to demonstrate an understanding of the application of either approach.
Standard of written communication, grammar, punctuation and referencing (20%)

Consistently accurate with spelling and grammar.

Consistently integrates up-to-date references to support all idea and factual information

1-2 errors with spelling and grammar.

Generally, up-to-date references to support and reflect all ideas and factual information with 1 or 2 exceptions

3-4 errors with spelling and grammar.

Partly integrates up-to-date references to support and reflect ideas and factual information with 3 or 4 exceptions

5-6 errors with spelling and grammar.

Occasionally integrates up-to-date references to support ideas and factual information with 5 or 6 exceptions

Many consistent errors with spelling, grammar or structure. Fails to or infrequently attempts to integrate up-to-date references to support ideas or factual information



Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Please, submit at 'Assessment 2 Submission'

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critique ideas of community and a range of community work models for practice.
  • Integrate cultural competency skills working within the community including working within Indigenous communities


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

3 Report

Assessment Title
Role of a Community Practitioner

Task Description

Length: 2000 words

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 list and appendices. It includes in-text references and direct quotations.

Format: Report

You are required to submit a report of approximately 2000 word. Your paper will introduce a socially innovative community project or initiative. The paper will need to outline the project, the community development approach that was utilised and a rationale to explain how the project is socially innovative. Your paper will need to provide an overview of the skills needed by practitioners working within your chosen project or initiative. You are welcome to choose a local, national or international project.

In addition to your paper, you are asked to create a flyer that provides information about the project or initiative that is targeted to the intended clientele.



Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (7 Oct 2019) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Review/Exam Week Monday (14 Oct 2019)


Weighting
35%

Assessment Criteria

HD (85-100) D (75-84) C (65-74) P (50-64) F (0-49)
Demonstrates conceptual/theoretical knowledge and understanding of the selected community development initiative and the relevant community development initiative Demonstrates excellent understanding of the chosen initiative Demonstrates a good understanding of the chosen initiative Demonstrates an adequate understanding of the initiative Demonstrates a limited understanding of the initiative Fails to demonstrate an understanding of the initiative
Ability to explain the skills required by a community practitioner (30%) Demonstrates a thorough understanding of the skills of a community practitioner Demonstrates a good understanding of the skils of a community practitioner Demonstrates an adequate understanding of the skills of a community practitioner Demonstrates a limited understanding of the skills of a community practitioner Fails to demonstrate an understanding of the skills of a community practitioner
Demonstrated ability to target the initiative to its intended clientele (10%) Excellent demonstration of targeting inteneded clientele Good demonstration of targeting intended clientele Adequate demonstration of targeting intended clientele Limited demonstration of targeting intended clientele Fails to demonstrate targeting intended clientele
Presentation and accuracy in written expression, word count, spelling and grammar (15%) Consistently accurate 1-2 errors in spelling and grammar 3-4 errors in spelling and grammar 5-6 errors in spelling and grammar Many errors with spelling and grammar
Accuracy in referencing (15%) Consistently integrates up-to-date references to support all idea and facual information Generally integrates up-to-date references to support all idea and facual information, with 1 -2 exceptions Partly integrates up-to-date references to support all ideas and factual information with 3-4  exceptions Occasionally integrates up-to-date references to support all ideas and factual information with 5- 6 exceptions Fails to or infrequently integrates up-to-date references to support all ideas and factual information.


Referencing Style

Submission

No submission method provided.


Submission Instructions
Please, submit at 'Assessment 3 Submission'

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Critique ideas of community and a range of community work models for practice.
  • Compare a range of strategies that provide useful outcomes for specified community based contexts and evaluate their usefulness.


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?