DISABLTY 113G : Making Disabilities: The Construction of Ideas

Education and Social Work

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines the expression of social and cultural ideas of disability in popular culture through film, television and print media. The course aims to develop skills to examine the construction and maintenance of concepts of disability and disabling identities in popular culture. The consequences of these processes are also discussed and their implications for perpetuating social devaluation, discrimination, and disadvantage.

Course Overview

In this course we take the approach "Cripping the Curriculum" to understand how ideas about disability are made, perpetuated, contested. We will privilege the voices (theory, films, writing, art) of disabled activists and scholars.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Develop and demonstrate awareness of the processes of the construction of disability in culture and media of New Zealand and internationally. (Capability 1 and 4)
  2. Develop critical and reflective thinking alongside an awareness of the student’s identity (Capability 1 and 4)
  3. Explain the role of media such as film, television and photography in the construction of the disabled identity (Capability 3 and 6)
  4. Demonstrate the contribution of ideas and methods from cross-disciplinary research to an understanding of the construction of social responses to disability. (Capability 3, 5 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Multiple Choice Quizzes (x6) 30% Individual Coursework
Essay 20% Individual Coursework
Final exam 50% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Multiple Choice Quizzes (x6)
Essay
Final exam

There will be eight quizzes, the scores for the best six will be used for the final grade.

To pass this course you must achieve at least 50% for the overall course.

Workload Expectations

Following University workload guidelines, a standard 15-point course represents approximately 150 hours of study.

This course is a standard 15-point course.

A typical semester including the study/exam period totals approximately 15 weeks. On average, students are expected to spend 10
hours per week in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this 15-point course you should expect to commit 36 hours to delivery of the course. You can also reasonably expect to commit approximately 100-120 hours to independent learning. This may include reading (and more reading), note-taking, face-to-face and/or online discussion, writing, engaging in collaborative group work, problem solving, undertaking practical tasks, reflecting on learning, accessing learning and study resources, and assignment, test and/or exam preparation and completion.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will be available as recordings.
The course will  include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
Attendance on campus is not required for the exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning 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.

There are weekly readings and/or recordings. In lectures we will discuss and analyse these materials - you can use the discussion boards to help you prepare for the in class discussions. We also make use of a number of online activities in lectures and tutorials. Please be sure to bring a device you can use to both lectures and tutorials.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester 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 and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Students have told us
"I loved this course. It completely opened my eyes to a new way of thinking and experiencing the world. It was well–organised, interesting and intellectually–stimulating. The lecturers were approachable and friendly. I liked the way that they used a variety of different media as resources e.g. videos, articles, webcomics, etc."

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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, 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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.