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Unit outline_

WILD3001: Taronga Project

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Evidence-based decision making is at the heart of wildlife conservation. The application of evidence helps to support and inform management and helps answer questions such as 'what are our conservation goals', 'what action will be effective', 'can we create greater impacts for conservation' and 'where should our valuable resources be allocated'. The ability to undertake evidence-based decision making is a crucial skill not only in wildlife conservation but in many careers. This unit presents the opportunity to undertake a project bringing together concepts and skills you have learnt in your discipline and apply them to a real-world problem. For example, you may participate in a wildlife conservation project that will address threats to a species or habitat through the analysis of a range of information (such as peer-reviewed publications, expert assessments, Indigenous knowledge) before assessing the effectiveness of any current management plans. You may address questions such as 'how do species adapt in an urban environment', or 'how have biosecurity systems contributed to maintaining Australia's biodiversity'. In this unit you will continue to understand and explore disciplinary knowledge. You will collaborate with other students from the Taronga Wildlife Conservation degree stream gaining skills in identifying and solving problems, collecting and analysing data and communicating findings to diverse audiences. This unit will also foster your ability to be an independent learner and work effectively in group contexts. All of these skills are highly valued by employers.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
12 credit points from (BIOL2X22 or BIOL2X24 or BIOL2032 or ENVX2001 or GEGE2X01)
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Emma Thompson, e.thompson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Emma Thompson, e.thompson@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home short release) Type D final exam Final exam
Written exam applying theory and practical knowledge to scenarios
40% Formal exam period 1 hour
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Project Proposal
Initial project proposal
5% Week 03 400 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Written assignment
Written assignment associated with wildlife conservation projects in genera
10% Week 06 1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment Group Project Schedule
Team progress reports
10% Week 08 ~700 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO5 LO6
Assignment group assignment Project report
Full project report based on experiment, results, conclusions
25% Week 12 2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Presentation group assignment Presentation
Oral presentation + PowerPoint presenting the findings of your project
10% Week 13 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
group assignment = group assignment ?
Type D final exam = Type D final exam ?

Assessment summary

Assessments in the Taronga Project Unit are designed to take you through the fundamentals of a wildlife conservation project from inception to conclusions.  You will be given a scenario, develop an individual proposal, work in a group to design, conduct and analyse an experiment, undertake stakeholder management, write a report and finally present your group findings.

Final exam: This assessment is compulsory and failure to attend, attempt, or submit will result in the award of an AF grade.

If a second replacement exam is required, this exam may be delivered via an alternative assessment method, such as a viva voce (oral exam). The alternative assessment will meet the same learning outcomes as the original exam. The format of the alternative assessment will be determined by the unit coordinator.”

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

Exceptional understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the Unit all written, presentation, and exam assessments.

Distinction

75 - 84

Thorough understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the Unit all written, presentation, and exam assessments.

Credit

65 - 74

Sound understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the Unit all written, presentation, and exam assessments.

Pass

50 - 64

Basic understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the Unit all written, presentation, and exam assessments.

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:

Please note there are no 2-day simple extensions for this unit.

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 Introduction and expectations of the Unit, revision of relevant concepts, introduction to project Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3
Transect lines tutorial and prac. Which to use and how to use them. Practical (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 02 Habitat assessment and vegetation mapping Lecture and tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Habitat assessment: putting theory into practice Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 Passerine bird: create ID chart, review, comment Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO6 LO7
Passerine birds Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 04 Conservation reports Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO4
Project pilot study in-grounds at Taronga Risk assessments Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6
Week 05 Project management and science communication Lecture (1 hr) LO1 LO2
Science communication scenarios, discussions and presentations Tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 06 Project time Independent study (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 07 Project time Independent study (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 09 Conservation Actions Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6
Conservation Actions at species, ecoregion and global scales Practical (3 hr) LO3 LO5 LO6
Week 10 Environmental Impact Assessments Lecture (1 hr) LO2 LO3 LO5 LO6 LO7
Qualitative social impact assessments Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Applied environmental impact assessment prac. Marine surveys and monitoring Practical (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Ethograms Lecture and tutorial (1 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Designing, using, evaluation ethograms Practical (3 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 13 Presentations Presentation (4 hr) LO5 LO6

Attendance and class requirements

All lectures and pracs will be held at Taronga Sydney and will take place face-to-face except for weeks when students are undertaken independent study.  Attendance at lectures and pracs is required. 

Covid restrictions are in place and all students will be required to provide evidence of double vaccination (or medical exemption) before attending Taronga.  Full details will be provided separately.  These restrictions are to ensure the safety of students, staff and guests.

For anyone not in Australia, online content will be provided.

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

There is no set text book for this Unit.  Access to reading material and resources will be provided throughout semester with full details on Canvas.

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. apply disciplinary knowledge to solve problems.
  • LO2. find, define and delimit authentic problems in order to address them.
  • LO3. create an investigation strategy, explore solutions, discuss approaches and predict outcomes.
  • LO4. analyse data using modern information technology and digital skills.
  • LO5. demonstrate integrity, confidence, personal resilience and the capacity to manage challenges, both individually and in teams.
  • LO6. collaborate with peers to develop solution(s) to the project problem.
  • LO7. communicate project outcomes effectively to a broad audience.

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.

Lecture and prac content have been changed slightly based on feedback for students, with more time added for students to gain experience in essential fieldwork skills that will be invaluable for their careers in wildlife conservation.

Site visit guidelines

All except 2 weeks will be held at Taronga. See Canvas for full details on how to get to the zoo, gain access and any safety requirements.

Work, health and safety

General: Check weather forecast before travelling to Taronga and wear appropriate clothing.  Classess will still occur even if its raining.  Taronga is located on a hill so wear appropriate walking footwear. 

Covid restrictions: this Unit will be taught taking into consideration contact tracing requirements and social distancing for both lectures and pracs.  It is essential you follow guidelines given to you by staff to ensure the safety of yourself, fellow students, staff and visitors to Taronga.  

All students will be required to provide evidence of double vaccination (or medical exemption) before attending Taronga.

You will be required to scan a QR code each time you enter Taronga.  This is in the case contact tracing is required.

You will required to bring and wear a facemask whenever you are in-grounds at the zoo.

Lectures – you will be asked to sit in specific seats in the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning lecture theatre to ensure >1.5m spacing.

Pracs – you will be split into groups for pracs and asked to ensure you keep >1.5m apart.  You will also be required to wear a face mask whenever you’re in-grounds at the zoo.

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.