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Unit outline_

SCWK2007: Life-course Perspectives on Development

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit of study focuses on human development, communication and understanding diversity. Students are invited to engage critically with influential 20th and 21st century paradigms which have informed understandings of human development and wellbeing. Students are introduced to the scope of social work practice, including thinking about the importance of community and social connectedness.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Social Work
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
48 credit points including (SCLG1001 and SCLG1002) or (12cp of SCLG1U01) or (12cp of 1000 level units in Diversity Studies)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
SCWK2004
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Jioji Ravulo, jioji.ravulo@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Rashid Flewellen, rashid.flewellen@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Joel Hollier, joel.hollier@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Quiz 1
Multiple choice and short answer questions.
25% Week 04
Due date: 18 Mar 2022 at 23:00
1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Essay 1
Essay
20% Week 07
Due date: 08 Apr 2022 at 23:00
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Assignment Quiz 2
Multiple choice and short answer questions
25% Week 10
Due date: 06 May 2022 at 23:00
1hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5
Assignment Essay 2
Essay
30% Week 12
Due date: 20 May 2022 at 23:00
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Assessment summary

  • Quiz 1: Students will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of key themes and concepts introduced in the initial weeks of the semester. Through multiple choice and short answer questions, they will be asked to respond to questions relating to how understandings of human development account for, or fail to account for, diverse life experiences.
  • Quiz 2: This quiz requires students to respond to a series of short vignettes, through multiple choice and short answer questions. To do well in this task, students will need to draw upon concepts from topics discussed throughout the semester.
  • Essay 1: In this task, students will choose from a range of source materials (eg images and text from media sources), and respond to the reflective prompts provided. The task encourages students to take notice of messages, themes, assumptions, and understandings relating to human development within their everyday life. 
  • Essay 2: In Essay 2, students will demonstrate the development in their learning across the semester. In Part 1 of this task, students will locate an example from their own experience (eg. an advertisement they have seen) and will discuss how human development is being framed or understood. The response should demonstrate learning from feedback received in Essay 1. In Part 2, students will write a 500-word reflection on how the knowledge gained in this Unit of Study will guide their future practice, with a focus on how it will inform their communication and approaches to working with people across diverse social contexts.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Late penalties are applied according to Section 7A of the University of Sydney Assessment Procedure 2011.

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 02 Welcome and introduction to core themes and concepts Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO2 LO5
Week 03 Medical and bio-psychosocial perspectives on human development Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 04 Psychological development: Introducing the theories of Freud, Erikson, and neo-Freudians Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 05 Behaviourism and cognitive theories Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 06 Independent revision and optional individual consultations throughout week 5 (in lieu of Good Friday) Individual study (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 07 Attachment theory: strengths and limitations in social work practice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 08 Humanist approaches: Rogers and Maslow Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 09 People in context: Systems theories and Personal-Cultural-Social influences on development Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO5
Week 10 Themes and debates in human development theory: diversity and gender Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Themes and debates in human development theory: diversity and ability Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 12 Social work in action: The development and use of language Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 13 Social work in action: Introducing communication skills for social work practice Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: The Sydney School of Education and Social Work requires attendance of at least 90 percent of all seminars, workshops or lectures. Where a student is unable to attend at the required rate evidence of illness or misadventure may be required and the student may be required to undertake extra work. Students should discuss the circumstances of their absence(s) with the co-ordinator of the unit of study. Further details are provided in the School canvas site: https://canvas.sydney.edu.au/courses/13426

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

Prescribed readings for this unit can be accessed through Canvas. Students are encouraged to use the University Library’s resources to widen their engagement with relevant literature.

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. Articulate a working knowledge of major theories of human development, including their strengths and limitations
  • LO2. Discuss social work concepts relevant to working with difference and diversity
  • LO3. Understand key concepts relating to effective communication
  • LO4. Describe a range of different approaches to communicating with clients, including the strengths and limitations of each approach
  • LO5. Appreciate the scope of social work practice.

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.

In response to student feedback, minor adjustments have been made to the assessment tasks to increase clarity. Links between theory and practice have been highly valued by previous students, and this will continue to be a focus of this unit.

Site visit guidelines

If you are undertaking professional experience/field education placement as part of your enrolment in this unit of study, please assess your specific needs and requirements for the safe and successful completion of an external placement within a host organisation. You will be given the opportunity to disclose any health issues that have a work health and safety significance before arranging a placement so that your safety, and the safety of others, can be properly assessed. The Professional Experience Coordinator/Field Education Manager will work to ensure that the workplace assignment to you is appropriate for your needs and requirements. If you are experiencing disability, and require reasonable adjustments to be arranged, please contact Disability Services as early as possible prior to commencing the internship. Please note, in all cases, and for the purpose of organising reasonable adjustments, only the impact and not the nature, of your disability will be disclosed to the host organisation.

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.