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Unit outline_

FASS3500: Service Learning in Indigenous Communities

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit is designed for students in their intermediary year(s) of undergraduate studies and provides them with the opportunity to work on an interdisciplinary project with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partner organisations and communities located in metropolitan, regional and remote parts of Australia. Students will work on real-world projects that have been prioritised and identified by Indigenous communities, applying their disciplinary expertise and gaining valuable experience in working across disciplinary boundaries.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Arts and Social Sciences
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Suzanne Kenney, suzanne.kenney@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment group assignment Essay and Suggested Survey Questions (groups of 3-4)
Individual assessment conducted in groups
20% -
Due date: 28 Mar 2022 at 23:59
800 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO6 LO7
Assignment group assignment Written Report (includes data analysis contribution)
eg - Data analysis section (1000 words) - Written report (1000 words)
50% -
Due date: 07 Jun 2022 at 23:59
2000 words per student
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Presentation Oral presentation
Group assessment
10% -
Due date: 29 Apr 2022 at 23:59
10 slides/500 words equivalent
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO7 LO6 LO5
Assignment Critical reflection – personal and discipline focus
Individual assessment.
20% -
Due date: 14 Jun 2022 at 23:59
1200 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO6
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found in the Canvas site for this unit.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Unit Overview Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander History pre- and post-invasion Lecture (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Group allocations – Topic Area Groups and Island Cluster Teams Getting to Know the Torres Strait, review Community Profile Report Introduce Assessment 1 – Individual Essays and Draft Questions Assessment 2 and 3 – Visualising the Community Presentation and Reports Commence Work on Assessment 1 - Discuss Topic Group Strategy Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5
Week 02 Climate Change Impacts on People and the Environment Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
‘Meet and greet’ with Community representatives / Topic Experts Work on Assessment 1 - Essays covering topic areas Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Community Governance & Administration Disaster Preparedness Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Work on Assessment 1 – Essays and Draft Questions Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 04 Livelihoods and Employment Culture, Arts and Language Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Work on Assessment 1 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Health and Wellbeing Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Presentation in Class on topics and draft questions Revisiting Assessment 2 and 3 – Creating your Report Structure (Cluster Groups) Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 06 Environmental Health Housing Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assessment 1 Due March 28 Revise Questions – practice survey and interviews planning Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 Environment, Island Ecology and Heritage Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Workshop – Create Database for entering data from surveys Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 08 Culturally safe and respectful interview practices Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Practice Interviews, Practice Data Coding and Entry in Cluster Teams Discussing Community Protocols Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 09 Group Projects with Community Assessment 2 Presentations in the Community Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Group Projects with Community Assessment 2 Presentations in the Community Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Data Analysis Workshop (all students urged to attend) Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Work on Assessment 3 Report Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Environmental Justice Supporting project work Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Work on Assessment 3 Report Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Educational Justice Supporting project work Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Work on Assessment 3 Report Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 13 Aboriginal Leadership – Your Leadership Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Work on Assessment 3 Report Complete Second Growth and Empowerment Measure Assessment 3 – Project Report due June 7 Assessment 4 – Reflection due June 14 Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

Lectures and tutorials are compulsory due to the impact of Covid-19 on this unit of study.

Lectures and tutorials will be delivered and face to face teaching will be provided where possible within University guidelines.

  • Attendance: students are expected to attend 90% of their classes. If you attend less than 50% of classes, regardless of the reasons, you may be referred to the Examiner’s Board which will decide whether you should pass or fail the unit of study if your attendance falls below this threshold.
  • Lecture recording: Most lectures (in recording-equipped venues) will be recorded and may be made available to students on the LMS. However, you should not rely on lecture recording to substitute your classroom learning experience.
  • Preparation: students should commit to spend approximately three hours’ preparation time (reading, studying, homework, essays, etc.) for every hour of scheduled instruction.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings will be posted on the Canvas site. 

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. think critically and problem solve
  • LO2. demonstrate ability to critically self-reflect on your cultural identities and interaction with others including communities and other group members
  • LO3. demonstrate a capacity for active listening and effective community and team engagement
  • LO4. articulate an understanding of the broader social and political context of the project and community
  • LO5. identify solutions in a team environment incorporating multiple ideas into effective coherent solutions that are responsive to community identified needs
  • LO6. demonstrate insight into client needs
  • LO7. share responsibility for quality, timeliness and thoroughness of report outcomes.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Changes made since this unit was last offered incorporate feedback from previous students, Elders and other representatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community organisation partners.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.