GEOG 3024 - Geography Matters

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2019

This is the capstone course for the Major in Geography and Environmental Studies. The course provides students with an opportunity to apply (and further develop) their geography and environmental analytic skills by investigating a practical problem in the field. The centrepiece of the course is a fieldtrip to the area under investigation. Each year, a practical problem or issue is selected. These field problems all require analysis from both social science and physical geography perspectives. Students form groups and are tasked with investigating and analysing the issue and recommending possible responses. Fieldwork is underpinned by a series of lectures which provide major philosophical and theoretical approaches to geographical and environmental problems. The analysis of data collected in fieldwork and the preparation of group reports is supported by a series of workshops.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code GEOG 3024
    Course Geography Matters
    Coordinating Unit Geography, Environment and Population
    Term Semester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 6
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange
    Prerequisites At least 15 units of Geography, Environment and Population Major courses
    Assumed Knowledge Basic knowledge of geography
    Restrictions Available to students undertaking a Geography, Environment & Population Major only
    Course Description This is the capstone course for the Major in Geography and Environmental Studies. The course provides students with an opportunity to apply (and further develop) their geography and environmental analytic skills by investigating a practical problem in the field. The centrepiece of the course is a fieldtrip to the area under investigation. Each year, a practical problem or issue is selected. These field problems all require analysis from both social science and physical geography perspectives.

    Students form groups and are tasked with investigating and analysing the issue and recommending possible responses. Fieldwork is underpinned by a series of lectures which provide major philosophical and theoretical approaches to geographical and environmental problems. The analysis of data collected in fieldwork and the preparation of group reports is supported by a series of workshops.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Yan Tan

    Course Timetable

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

    This course will be run as a block activity and supplemented by independent learning and field work
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Demonstrate understanding of key geographical concepts
    2. Demonstrate capacity to apply geographical theories and concepts in practice
    3. Demonstrate skill in applying geography skills to real world problems
    4. Demonstrate competence in at least one of cultural, urban or environmental geography fields
    5. Demonstrate capacity to community geography concepts in different fora
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1, 2,3 ,4, 5
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 2,3 ,4, 5
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1, 2,3 ,4, 5
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    1, 2,3 ,4, 5
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 2,3 ,4, 5
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1, 2,3 ,4, 5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Cresswell, T 2012 Geographic Thought A critical Introduction, Wiley Blackwell
    Recommended Resources
    To be advised
    Online Learning
    This course relies heavily on MYUNI as well as encouraging students to access wikis, podcasts etc. I
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will involve field trips, online learning, team teaching and small group discovery
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    Students are expected to undertake 3 hours of face to face a week and up to 6 hours a week research and preparation. This is a 6 unit capstone course so students will be expected to do a higher load in terms of assessment and preparatory work.
    Learning Activities Summary

    Week 1. Introduction

    Week 2 Key concepts

    Week 3. Key concepts plus skills development (report writing, doing research)

    Week 4 Key themes Urban

    Week 5. Key themes: Urban (and field trip 1)

    Week 6. Key themes: Environment

    Week 7. Key themes: Environment (and field trip 2)

    Week 8 Key themes: Culture

    Week 9 Key themes: Culture (and filed trip 3)

    Week 10 Critical Thinking about geography in practice

    Week 11 Critical Thinking about geography in practice

    Week 12 Wrapping it all up – summaries and verbals
    Specific Course Requirements
    This is a capstone course for those majoring in Geography: Three field trips will ensure students interrogate geographical concepts in real life situations
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    This class will focus on small group discovery throughout as it aims to encourage deep learning and specialisation in students about geography
  • 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
    ASSESSMENT 

    3000 word concepts essay: 30%


    Tutorial portfolio: 20%


    Field trip report: 40%

    Attendance: 10%

    Assessment Related Requirements
    Three field trips wil be undertaken and students are expected to be able to attend. This course is for geography majors
    Assessment Detail
    Key concepts essay: designed to build students writing and analysis skills and test conceptual understanding

    Tutorial portfolio – designed to asses series of skills based and knowledge applied tasks during the course testing inter-relationship between geographical concepts and application

    Field trip report – designed to develop student research skills as well as capacity to do group work in real life situations

    Attendance – students participation and contribution to debates will be rewarded
    Submission
    Submission dates will be advised on a yearly basis
    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.

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