AUS4010 - Australian Society and Culture: Diverse People, Diverse Lives

Leader: Andrew Hassam

Offered

Gippsland Second semester 2007 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

Australian Society and Culture investigates diverse local communities and the networks of places, activities and loyalties that collectively form Australian society. Through short assignments 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. This interdisciplinary unit enables students to critically engage with differing perspectives on the diversity of Australian society.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

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 (on-campus) Learning journal (off-campus) (1000) : 10%
Short assignment (2 x 1500 words) (3000) : 40%
Project proposal and literature review (1000) : 10%
Research project (4000) : 40%

Contact hours

2 hours (1 x 2-hour seminar) per week (on-campus students only)

Prohibitions

AUS5010