Year

2023

Credit points

10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit

Prerequisites

Determined by the nature of the special study

Teaching organisation

This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning, or the equivalent of 10 hours per week for 15 weeks. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials and online learning. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation and submission of tasks for assessment.

Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit enables flexibility in the offering of electives and specialised studies for advanced undergraduates. It provides the possibility of offering a unit meeting the specific needs of a group of students or reflecting the particular expertise of staff or a visiting scholar.

The unit will contribute to the development of broad and coherent theoretical and technical knowledge and provide opportunities for cognitive maturity in analysis, a flexible methodological approach which is able to accommodate unpredictable or complex problems, and an ability to communicate ideas of this nature to others.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

Variable based on the selected area under investigation and nature of enquiry. 

Graduate attributes

GA1 - demonstrate respect for the dignity of each individual and for human diversity

GA2 - recognise their responsibility to the common good, the environment and society 

GA3 - apply ethical perspectives in informed decision making

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA6 - solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

Variable based on the selected area under investigation and nature of enquiry. Topics and nature of unit of study will be identified and determined by the supervisor

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning, or the equivalent of 10 hours per week for 15 weeks. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials and online learning. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation and submission of tasks for assessment. 

 

The unit is normally offered face to face, although other modes might be appropriate where circumstances would require it. Students learn through formally structured and sequenced learning activities that support the achievement of the learning outcomes. Students are asked to critically reflect, analyse, and integrate new information with existing knowledge, draw meaningful new connections, and then apply what they have learned. Collaborative and peer learning is also emphasised. The learning activities enable students to acquire and assimilate knowledge through application of, and critical reflection on, modern methodological approaches.  

 

This unit emphasises students as active learners. Students are recognised as adult learners who engage best when what they are learning is relevant to them and gives them the opportunity to be responsible for their own learning. In many ways, the student is the one who drives the learning forward. Active participation in this unit is essential. Learning is designed to be an engaging and supportive experience, which helps students to develop critical thinking and reflection skills.

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. 

The assessment tasks and their weighting for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome. In order to pass this unit, students are required to submit and participate in all assessment tasks.

Overview of assessments

Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment TasksWeightingLearning OutcomesGraduate Attributes

Academic Assignments (per arrangement with supervisor at the required AQF 7 level)

100%

Representative texts and references

Texts and references appropriate to the topics will be identified by the supervisor in consultation with the student.

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