AUS4010

Australian Society and Culture: Diverse People, Diverse Lives ( 12 points, SCA Band 1, 0.250 EFTSL)

Leader: Andrew Hassam

Offered:
Clayton First semester 2006 (Day)
Clayton Second semester 2006 (Day)

Synopsis: Australian Society and Culture investigates diverse local communities and the networks of places, activities and loyalties that collectively form Australian society. Through group work and guided project work, students will engage with ideas and concepts from diverse cultures and develop the ability to reflect on their own cultural values. Students will have the opportunity to visit regional, outback Australia and compare it with the urban environment of Melbourne. This interdisciplinary unit enables students to critically engage with differing perspectives on the diversity of Australian society.

Objectives: 1)Identify, represent and critically engage with differing views relating to the diversity of social and cultural experience within Australia. 2)Recognise, represent and critically reflect upon ideas and concepts from diverse cultures, and develop the ability to reflect on one's own cultural values. 3)Reflect on personal learning and respond productively to constructive feedback from one's peers. 4)Utilise proficiently a range of IT resources such as word processing and email, search databases and text files, and locate, employ and evaluate internet sites. 5)Communicate ideas to an international audience with clarity, coherence and persuasiveness. 6)Employ effective essay and report writing skills showing ability to integrate and critically assess material from a variety of sources relating to the diversity of social and cultural experience within Australia. 7)Develop collaborative skills in working within international groups, and contribute creatively, flexibly and adaptively to the achievement of shared goals. 8)Work independently and to deadlines within a guided framework, with a capacity to define problems/questions and to know how to set about finding answers.

Assessment: Participation (1000 words equiv.) 10%; Short assignment (2 x 1500 words) (3000 words): 40%; Project proposal and literature review (1000 words): 10%; Research project (4000 words): 40%

Contact Hours: 2 hours (1 x 2 hour seminar) per week

Prohibitions: AUS5010