SUSTAIN 300 : A Sustainable World
Science
2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
Sustain 300 is the final course in the Sustainability Module, but can also be taken as a standalone course. It examines global approaches to sustainability and will cover topics such as the Sustainable Development Goals, environmental movements including those of indigenous peoples, and the role of non-governmental organisations in bringing about international agreements. The course will also examine alternative economic models such as the circular economy, and take a close look at people on the move as a result of tourism, climate change and other environmental threats. The focal topics this year are energy and biodiversity, each will run for two weeks and involve guest lecturers from across the university. The tutorial programme will focus on a group project in which students create a political party and outline and defend the policies they feel will forward sustainability values and outcomes.
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
- Demonstrate understanding of how large scale social institutions including politics, international agreements, global social movements and economics contribute to sustainability problems and solutions (Capability 1 and 2)
- Critically discuss and apply the values of sustainability (Capability 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6)
- Work with peers to create a political party and associated policies that promote sustainable outcomes (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Exemplify high-level awareness of effective group process (Capability 4, 5 and 6)
- Demonstrate critical understanding of two sustainability issues and potential solutions: biodiversity and energy (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Test | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Portfolio (website + video) | 20% | Group Coursework |
| Reflection | 20% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Portfolio (website + video) | ||||||||||
| Reflection | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Tuākana
Key Topics
Workload Expectations
During a typical teaching week there will be two hours of lectures, one hour of tutorials and one hour of extra material (readings, videos etc). For the 12 teaching weeks, this totals 45 hours. Since the course as a whole represents approximately 150 hours of study, that leaves a total of 105 hours across the entire semester for both group work and independent study.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities, particularly tutorials, as these are a required component of the course.
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 unless we are forced to change our delivery mode.
Under normal circumstances attendance on campus is required for both the test and exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Special advice for Offshore students
This course is available online to students resident offshore. The assessment and learning delivery mechanisms may differ from that presented in this Digital Course Outline. Please contact the Course Coordinator for further details: Anthony Gampell (a.gampell@auckland.ac.nz).
Learning Resources
SUSTAIN 300 does not have a required text book. Instead all required reading material will be provided through 'Reading lists' on Canvas.
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.