WILD3888: Semester 2, 2021

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Units WILD3888 Semester 2 2021 [Normal day]

Unit outline_

WILD3888: Taronga Interdisciplinary Project

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

Overview

Our ever-changing world requires knowledge that extends across multiple disciplines. The ability to identify and explore interdisciplinary links is a crucial skill for emerging conservation professionals and researchers alike. Conservation scientists need to consider and address the social and economic constraints in the environments within which their activities take place, to ensure successful implementation. This unit presents the opportunity to bring together the concepts and skills you have learnt in your discipline and apply them to a real-world problem. For example, you will participate in a wildlife conservation project that will traverse biological, ethical, sociological and Indigenous studies, and apply your understanding of conservation concepts to problems that are big challenges for the 21st Century. In this unit you will continue to understand and explore interdisciplinary knowledge, while also meeting and collaborating with students from the Taronga Wildlife Conservation degree stream and from across the University through project-based learning; identifying and solving problems, collecting and analysing data and communicating your findings to diverse audiences. This unit will also foster the ability to work with and in disciplinary teams, essential for both professional and research pathways. 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 ?	ENVX2001 and BIOL2032 and 12 credit points from (BIOL2X22 or BIOL2X24 or GEGE2X01)]
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Emma Thompson, e.thompson@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Literature Review Species background: indigenous scientific knowledge & sustainable practices	35%	Week 05	2,500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Reflective article Topic tbc	10%	Week 08	500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Report Report based on findings of research and peer review on project process.	40%	Week 12	3,000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation Present the findings of your research	15%	Week 13	10-12 minute group presentation
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Assessments in the Taronga Interdisciplinary Project Unit are designed to make you think about wildlife conservation from different perspectives. You will explore a species from these perspectives.

An outline of the assessments is given above. Full details and a rubric for each assessment will be provided on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

>85%, High Distinction: Exceptional understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the unit and all written, presentation and exam assessments

75-84%, Distinction: Thorough understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the unit and all written, presentation and exam assessments

65-74%, Credit: Sound understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the unit and all written, presentation and exam assessments

50-64%, Pass: Basic understanding and demonstrated ability throughout the unit and all written, presentation and exam assessments

<49%, Fail: 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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Overview of Unit lecture and tutorial at USYD	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 02	Lecture and tutorial at USYD	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 03	Lecture and tutorial at USYD	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 04	Lecture and tutorial/prac at USYD	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 05	Lecture and tutorial/prac at USYD	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 06	Lecture and tutorial/prac at USYD	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 07	Lecture and tutorial/prac at USYD	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 08	Independent project work. No formal classes due to Labor Day.	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 09	Lecture and Prac at TARONGA ZOO	Lecture and tutorial (4 hr)
Week 10	Lecture at USYD Prac/Tutorial time allocated to independent project work	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 11	Lecture at USYD Tutorial/prac time allocated to independent project work	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 12	Lecture at USYD Tutorial/prac time allocated to independent project work	Lecture (2 hr)
Week 13	Group presentations during class time at USYD	Presentation (4 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

All face-to-face sessions will be held at the University except for week 9 which will be at Taronga.

WILD3888 is running in partnership with ENVI3888 with students from both units attending together as a combined class.

You are encouraged to attend and participate in face-to-face lectures, tutorials and pracs. On-site attendance will enhance your experience ensuring you fully understand the content of the unit.

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

Journal article readings will be prescribed throughout semester.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. Apply disciplinary knowledge to solve problems in an interdisciplinary context
LO2. Find, define and delimit authenic 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 diverse groups and across cultural and disciplinary boundaries to develop solution(s) to the project problem
LO7. Communicate project outcomes effectively to abroad 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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

This is a new unit of study. Any feedback provided in the unit of study survey at the end of semester will be taken into consideration for future years.

Additional information

Science student portal

Work, health and safety

Risk assessments will be undertaken where necessary and circulated via Canvas.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

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