DEVT 2101 - Community, Gender and Critical Development

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2015

This course critically explores some of the ways in which community and gender influence and are transformed by contemporary development policies, processes and programs. Students will evaluate key concepts and frameworks in terms of the anthropology of development and critique international development and planned culture change from modernist, gender-based and poststructuralist perspectives. The course takes an actor-oriented perspective, grounding applied practices in macro-economic, historical and socio-political contexts of local people's development experiences. It privileges the ways in which development beneficiaries perceive, understand and feel about the imposition of development and culture change and to what extent they can gain knowledge and/or power over this process through the analysis of several community-based case studies. The course also looks at some of the knowledge, skills and attitudes that are needed to seek practical solutions in these settings, exploring various participatory field methods concerned with generating shared information, ensuring community empowerment and participation and in eliciting community/ local views.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code DEVT 2101
    Course Community, Gender and Critical Development
    Coordinating Unit Anthropology and Development Studies
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites At least 12 units of level 1 undergraduate study
    Incompatible DEVT 2001 or DEVT 3001 & ANTH 2021 or ANTH 3021
    Course Description This course critically explores some of the ways in which community and gender influence and are transformed by contemporary development policies, processes and programs. Students will evaluate key concepts and frameworks in terms of the anthropology of development and critique international development and planned culture change from modernist, gender-based and poststructuralist perspectives.

    The course takes an actor-oriented perspective, grounding applied practices in macro-economic, historical and socio-political contexts of local people's development experiences. It privileges the ways in which development beneficiaries perceive, understand and feel about the imposition of development and culture change and to what extent they can gain knowledge and/or power over this process through the analysis of several community-based case studies. The course also looks at some of the knowledge, skills and attitudes that are needed to seek practical solutions in these settings, exploring various participatory field methods concerned with generating shared information, ensuring community empowerment and participation and in eliciting community/ local views.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Alison Dundon

    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. An understanding of the broad nature and theories of development at the community, participatory and/or grassroots level and the diversity of community and participatory development contexts, policies and practices 
    2. An understanding of the main critiques of development from a gender-based perspective.
    3. Knowledge of and insight into key issues and concerns raised about the nature of development from a critical perspective.
    4. The ability to understand and apply these key theoretical approaches to contemporary development contexts, situations and specific case studies.
    5. The ability to critically evaluate central themes, propositions and concepts in development studies.
    6. The skills to work collaboratively in teams as well as individually in a learning and research environment
    7. An interest in and commitment to continuous learning and social scientific research into development policies and programs.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1, 2, 3, 4
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 4, 6
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 4, 5, 6
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 6
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 7
    A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community. 4
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There is a Book of Readings available for this course from the Image and Copy Centre, Level 1, Hughes Building. The Book of Readings consists of a copy of the Course Profile, and the essential readings for each tutorial week as listed in the course structure. 
    Recommended Resources
    For those who wish to read beyond the essential readings for each week or for use in developing and researching assessments, supplementary readings have also been suggested for each week and will be available on MyUni (articles) or in Reserve at the Library (books). Please see Helen Attar, Research Librarian for Anthropology and Development Studies for further enquiries about sources online and in the library. Contact details: Tel: 8303 5345; Email: helen.attar@adelaide.edu.au
    Online Learning
    Lectures will be recorded each week and made available on MyUni. Course lecture PowerPoints and additional notes or references will also be made available on MyUni after the relevant lecture. The PowerPoints only refer to the main points or issues raised in the lectures and are not a substitute for attending and/or listening to recorded lectures. Essay questions will also made available on MyUni as will any adjustments made to lecture and tutorial times or locations (or cancellations), and other announcements. 
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    No information currently available.

    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

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