SCIGEN 301 : Engaging in a Knowledge Society
Science
2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course is about how we engage in partnerships and use knowledge to address complex challenges. Today’s increasing mistrust in experts, coming at the very moment expertise across all disciplines is most needed, is a dual challenge that requires a new understanding of science’s foundations, its social role, and changes to how this role is enacted. Solutions will be gained from collaborations that co-produce knowledge in transdisciplinary partnerships that lead to new ways of thinking. This course explores and unpacks assumptions about how science is done, how it is communicated, and how we might achieve more meaningful ways to engage with society to pose questions, reinterpret, and reassesses our current ways of knowing and doing.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Critically examine theoretical underpinnings and principles that should underpin meaningful engagement (Capability 1, 2 and 6)
- Demonstrate an understanding of and discuss how science is shaped by political, cultural and other values. (Capability 1, 2 and 6)
- Understand and apply contexts and methods for community engagement. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Critically explore effective ways to engage in community-based research. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6)
- Engage with community through a real world engagement experience. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Understand and apply through groupwork the multiple ways in which science and policy can work together. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Appreciate and apply in a learning simulation the importance of ethics in the development, uses and governance of science. and technology (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the concepts of risk and uncertainty in evidence use and discuss how this affects decision making. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Self Directed Field Experience and Creative Output | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Scenario Engagement and Activities | 20% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Assignment | ||||||||||
| Self Directed Field Experience and Creative Output | ||||||||||
| Scenario Engagement and Activities | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Key Topics
Special Requirements
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 34 hours of lectures, 10 hours of tutorial; 6 hours fieldtrip; 40 hours of reading and thinking about the content during the entire semester and 30 hours of work on assignments during the entire semester.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
The learning simulation activity (a group game) which will take place in the second half of semester requires attendance for 3 of 4 lectures / tutorial days in one week to gain full marks (10%) - however students can still gain some marks for lower levels of engagement in this week (but not full marks) if they only attend some of the week.
The mock stakeholder meeting requires attendance for one hour (after the Monday lecture in week 12) to gain participation marks, however students will still be eligible for preparatory work marks if they cannot attend.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning Resources
All required learning resources are made available through canvas and the course talis reading list. You are however expected to independently access quality library sources for your assignments.
Student Feedback
During the course Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the staff responsible for the course and staff-student consultative committees.
At the end of the course students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback.
Your feedback helps to improve the course and its delivery for all students.
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Copyright
The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.
You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.