GEOG 3024 - Geography matters

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2018

This is the capstone course for the Major in Geography and Environmental Studies. The course provides students with an opportunity to apply (and further develop) their geography and environmental analytic skills by investigating a practical problem in the field. The centrepiece of the course is a fieldtrip to the area under investigation. Each year, a practical problem or issue is selected. These field problems all require analysis from both social science and physical geography perspectives. Students form groups and are tasked with investigating and analysing the issue and recommending possible responses. Fieldwork is underpinned by a series of lectures which provide major philosophical and theoretical approaches to geographical and environmental problems. The analysis of data collected in fieldwork and the preparation of group reports is supported by a series of workshops.

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Course Details

Course Code	GEOG 3024
Course	Geography matters
Coordinating Unit	Geography, Environment and Population
Term	Semester 2
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	6 hours a week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange
Prerequisites	At least 6 units of Level II undergraduate study
Assumed Knowledge	Basic knowledge of geography
Restrictions	Available to students enrolled in Geography Major or Bachelor of Environmental Policy and Management
Assessment	Key concepts essay 30%, Tutorial portfolio 20%, Field trip report 40%, Attendance 10%

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Jennifer Bonham

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from .

This course will be run as a block activity and supplemented by independent learning and field work

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Demonstrate understanding of key geographical concepts
2. Demonstrate capacity to apply geographical theories and concepts in practice
3. Demonstrate skill in applying geography skills to real world problems
4. Demonstrate competence in at least one of cultural, urban or environmental geography fields
5. Demonstrate capacity to community geography concepts in different fora

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Deep discipline knowledge informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1 accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)	1, 2,3 ,4, 5
Critical thinking and problem solving steeped in research methods and rigor based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment	1, 2,3 ,4, 5
Teamwork and communication skills developed from, with, and via the SGDE honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning	1, 2,3 ,4, 5
Career and leadership readiness technology savvy professional and, where relevant, fully accredited forward thinking and well informed tested and validated by work based experiences	1, 2,3 ,4, 5
Intercultural and ethical competency adept at operating in other cultures comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges	1, 2,3 ,4, 5
Self-awareness and emotional intelligence a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate	1, 2,3 ,4, 5

Learning Resources

Required Resources

Cresswell, T 2012 Geographic Thought A critical Introduction, Wiley Blackwell

Recommended Resources

To be advised

Online Learning

This course relies heavily on MYUNI as well as encouraging students to access wikis, podcasts etc. I
Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

This course will involve field trips, online learning, team teaching and small group discovery

Workload

The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

Students are expected to undertake 3 hours of face to face a week and up to 6 hours a week research and preparation. This is a 6 unit capstone course so students will be expected to do a higher load in terms of assessment and preparatory work.

Learning Activities Summary

Week 1. Introduction

Week 2 Key concepts

Week 3. Key concepts plus skills development (report writing, doing research)

Week 4 Key themes Urban

Week 5. Key themes: Urban (and field trip 1)

Week 6. Key themes: Environment

Week 7. Key themes: Environment (and field trip 2)

Week 8 Key themes: Culture

Week 9 Key themes: Culture (and filed trip 3)

Week 10 Critical Thinking about geography in practice

Week 11 Critical Thinking about geography in practice

Week 12 Wrapping it all up – summaries and verbals

Specific Course Requirements

This is a capstone course for those majoring in Geography: Three field trips will ensure students interrogate geographical concepts in real life situations

Small Group Discovery Experience

This class will focus on small group discovery throughout as it aims to encourage deep learning and specialisation in students about geography

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

ASSESSMENT

3000 word concepts essay: 30%

Tutorial portfolio: 20%

Field trip report: 40%

Attendance: 10%

Assessment Related Requirements

Three field trips wil be undertaken and students are expected to be able to attend. This course is for geography majors

Assessment Detail

Key concepts essay: designed to build students writing and analysis skills and test conceptual understanding

Tutorial portfolio – designed to asses series of skills based and knowledge applied tasks during the course testing inter-relationship between geographical concepts and application

Field trip report – designed to develop student research skills as well as capacity to do group work in real life situations

Attendance – students participation and contribution to debates will be rewarded

Submission

Submission dates will be advised on a yearly basis

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through .

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student鈥檚 disciplinary procedures.

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Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator

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