Course Coordinator:Robyn Fox (rfox@usc.edu.au) School:School of Education and Tertiary Access
UniSC Sunshine CoastUniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
This course introduces you to Australian landscapes and the broad range of educational and ecotourism experiences that can be provided in these places. You will develop introductory knowledge and skills in a range of content areas and disciplines relevant to future outdoor leaders, teachers, and environmental interpreters. By participating in field trips to a selection of local Australian environments, you will gain first-hand experience of high-quality outdoor learning and ecotourism experiences.
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – You are required to engage and interact with asynchronous materials and activities accessed through Canvas modules, course readings and required texts. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 8 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – There will be a series of 2 hour workshops throughout the trimester. Attendance is a requirement at these workshop as the serve as preparatory work and development or required safety knowledge for the completion of fieldwork. | 2hrs | Week 1 | 7 times |
| Fieldwork – Fieldwork trips - duration dependent on location. Students are required to complete associated fieldwork aligned to workshops. The fieldwork requires off-campus activities. Total number of days of fieldwork will be identified in Canvas. | 8hrs | Refer to Format | 6 times |
100 Level (Introductory)
12 units
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Competencies from multiple Professional Bodies (see below) * | |
| 1 | Demonstrate foundational knowledge and understanding for learning in outdoor environments |
Knowledgeable Empowered Sustainability-focussed |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| 2 | Describe and analyse outdoor fieldwork observations and experiences |
Knowledgeable Empowered Sustainability-focussed |
1, 2, 3, 3.3.1, 4, 4, 4.2.5, 5, 6, 6.2.3, 6.2.4, 7, 9.2.1, 13.2.5 |
| 3 | Transfer practical and theoretical knowledge to interpreting and learning in Australian landscapes |
Knowledgeable Empowered |
3, 5, 7 |
| 4 | Employ effective language, structure and text to communicate information and ideas | Empowered |
7
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| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| ALTC Threshold Learning Outcomes | |
| 1 | Outdoor educators create opportunities for experiential learning |
| 2 | Outdoor educators use pedagogies that align their program’s purpose and practice |
| 3 | Outdoor educators are place-responsive, and see their work as a social, cultural and environmental endeavour |
| 4 | Outdoor educators advocate for social and environmental justice |
| 5 | Outdoor educators continue to develop their skills, knowledge and expertise |
| 6 | Outdoor educators understand safety and apply a strict aversion to fatalities |
| 7 | Outdoor educators routinely engage in reflective practice |
| Education for Sustainable Development Goals | |
| 3.3.1 | The learner is able to include health promoting behaviours in their daily routines. |
| 4 | Quality Education: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all |
| 4.2.5 | The learner is able to engage personally with ESD. |
| 6.2.3 | The learner is able to feel responsible for their water use. |
| 6.2.4 | The learner is able to see the value in good sanitation and hygiene standards. |
| 9.2.1 | The learner is able to argue for sustainable, resilient and inclusive infrastructure in their local area. |
| 13.2.5 | The learner is able to recognize that the protection of the global climate is an essential task for everyone and that we need to completely re-evaluate our worldview and everyday behaviours in light of this. |
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Enrolled in Program ED112, ED312
Not applicable
Not applicable
First-Aid Certificate
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Early feedback will be provided to students through Task 1 and the online discussion forums, and further assistance will be offered to those who require it. Formative assessment for Task 3 Journal will be provided in twice throughout the trimester and will enable students to gauge how they are progressing with the overall content.
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Activity Participation | Individual | 30% | Three primary posts -associated with the key readings or learning materials. Three secondary posts- associated with the key readings or learning materials. |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | Online Discussion Board |
| All | 2 | Oral and Written Piece | Individual and Group | 30% | Presentation: 15-minute presentation and five-minute discussion. Planning and reflection document 1200 words. |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check and in class |
| All | 3 | Journal | Individual | 40% | Trimester Long 6- pages minimum for each field day 2- pages for each week of the trimester |
Throughout teaching period (refer to Format) | To Supervisor |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Online Discussion | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Contribute to a series of online discussions with peers based on a selection of course readings and/or prompts related to course learning materials. |
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| Product: | Activity Participation | |||||||||||||||
| Format: | Written posts on the discussion board. Primary and secondary posts should be approximately 300 words each. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Organisation, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Enviornmental Thematic presentation and analysis | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | In a small group, you will apply your knowledge of environmental interpretation and communication to plan, present, and reflect on a thematic presentation delivered to your peers. |
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| Product: | Oral and Written Piece | |||||||||||||||
| Format: | Presentation: In person Planning and reflection documentation: Online |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:Field Naturalist Interpretive Journal | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | You will demonstrate your knowledge gained from OES field trips, personal observations and reflections, tutorials and learning materials to complete a field naturalist interpretive journal. |
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| Product: | Journal | |||||||||||||||
| Format: | Hand in at the conclusion of your final field trip for the trimester. |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies, Information literacy |
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| Programme Delivery Mode | Assessment Type | Title | Competency | Teaching Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Education Threshold Concepts | ||||
| All delivery modes | Activity Participation | Online Discussion | 2 | Taught |
| 3 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 4 | Taught, Practiced | |||
| 5 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 6 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 7 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
| Journal | Field Naturalist Interpretive Journal | 1 | Taught | |
| 2 | Taught | |||
| 3 | Taught, Practiced | |||
| 4 | Taught, Practiced | |||
| 5 | Taught, Practiced | |||
| 6 | Taught, Practiced | |||
| 7 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
| Oral and Written Piece | Enviornmental Thematic presentation and analysis | 1 | Taught | |
| 2 | Taught | |||
| 3 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
| 4 | Taught | |||
| 5 | Taught | |||
| 6 | Taught | |||
| 7 | Taught, Practiced, Assessed | |||
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Please note that you need to have regular access to the resource(s) listed below. Resources may be required or recommended.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Required | Glyn Thomas,Janet Dyment,Heather Prince | 2021 | Outdoor Environmental Education in Higher Education | n/a | Springer |
OES104 is structured to provide a sequence of fieldwork experiences that equip you with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to meet industry-established safety standards. It is, therefore, an expectation of both the University and our industry partners that you will participate in all of the directed study activities (blended learning material, tutorials and fieldwork) and demonstrate satisfactory proficiency in the safety-related activities required for safe participation in fieldwork within this course and other OES courses in your program. All Fieldwork activities are processed via the Field Friendly system. Students will receive an invitation via email for specific field trips, along with a request to complete the 'Online Induction for Fieldwork’. You must complete the Fieldwork Induction quiz and receive 100% before participating in fieldwork activities. You must also complete your personal details and emergency contacts. Trip information and risk management details will also be provided within Field Friendly. Please be aware that field trip dates may change due to adverse weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Reasonable alternatives will be provided for students who cannot attend field trips because of circumstances beyond their control. You will need to provide the following items for the practical field trip components: a day pack with a waterproof cover, a reusable water bottle, hiking shoes, a broad-brimmed hat, and a rain jacket. You may be required to provide your own transport to and from the field trip starting locations. Please be aware that this course includes physically active, outdoor components that require a reasonable level of fitness to participate in safely and effectively. If you have a disability, medical condition, or any concerns that may affect your involvement in these practical experiences, you are encouraged to contact the course coordinator or a UniSC Accessibility Advisor to discuss available support and adjustments.
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.
Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.
Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.