LARCH 7032 - Advanced Ecology (M)

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2016

This course considers themes in ecological design and new technologies as they relate to contemporary landscape architecture. The course explores topics such as ecology, habitat restoration, hydrology, civil techniques, horticulture, planting design, installation and maintenance and other techniques pertinent to the production of ecologically vibrant landscapes.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code LARCH 7032
    Course Advanced Ecology (M)
    Coordinating Unit School of Architecture and Built Environment
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Course Description This course considers themes in ecological design and new technologies as they relate to contemporary landscape architecture. The course explores topics such as ecology, habitat restoration, hydrology, civil techniques, horticulture, planting design, installation and maintenance and other techniques pertinent to the production of ecologically vibrant landscapes.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Amanda Balmer

    Room Lecture Napier 208 Lecture Theatre
    Tutorial Barr Smith 540 a/b Final Yr Studio
    Standard Tutorials are as follows: 
    Time Lecture Friday 09:00am – 10:00am – To be advised
    Tutorial Friday 10:00am – 12:00pm – Amanda Balmer/Isy James/Kat Baumann

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from the Course Planner at https://access.adelaide.edu.au/courses/search.asp

    COORDINATOR/TUTOR
    Name Ms. Amanda Balmer
    Company WAX Design
    Telephone 82150144
    Email amanda@waxdesign.com.au

    TUTOR                   
    Name Miss Isabella James
    Company WAX Design
    Telephone 82150144
    Email isabella@waxdesign.com.au

    TUTOR                    
    Name Miss Katarina Baumann
    Company WAX Design
    Telephone 82150144
    Email katarina@waxdesign.com.au

    PROGRAM COORDINATOR
    Name Tanya Court
    Location r469
    Telephone 8303 5694
    Email tanya.court@adelaide.edu.au

    CONTACT PROTOCOL
    Please note that guest lecturers and tutors coordinator will not be available outside of studio contact hours. It is expected students fully engage with lecture content and limited studio time to reach the necessary advancement and resolution of design outcomes. For any course related enquiry, please post an entry on the discussion board or email Amanda Balmer on the above email.

    Individual e-mail communication with students on course issues should be keep to a minimum and be for important matters only. Queries should mainly be raise in class. Emails of a trivial nature will not be responded to.

    Course Support Staff
    For issues concerning enrolment or queries about the School’s programs contact Clement Low, Student Advisor, 8313 5877, clement.low@adelaide.edu.au

    For issues related to discrimination or harassment contact the Course Coordinator or Velice Wennan, School Manager, 8313 5475, velice.wennan@adelaide.edu.au

    For issues relating to health, safety and wellbeing contact Ian Florance, Health, Safety and Wellbeing Officer, 8313 5978, ian.florance@adelaide.edu.au

    For issues relating to first aid contact Alison Bosnakis, First Aid Officer, 8313 5836, alison.bosnakis@adelaide.edu.au


    COURSE DESCRIPTION

    ”Like an artist who paints, practices and sketches, a landscape architect needs to spend years learning which plants do well in different soils and microclimates We must remember all these qualities: the form and colour of the plant, especially the hue of green; the requirements of light, water and soil; and the feeling one is trying to crate.“
                                                                                Cchran, Andrea*

    This course considers themes in ecological design and new technologies as they relate to contemporary landscape architecture. The course explores topics such as ecology, habitat restoration, hydrology, horticulture, planting design, installation and maintenance and other techniques pertinent to the production of ecologically vibrant landscapes. Students will build on previous course knowledge regarding plants and the use of plants as a material and an expression of a design intent, whilst further exploring the vast spectrum of possibilities to use plants in design projects.

    Plants have over centuries been regarded as the inherent element in landscape architectural work. However, with the development of the profession moving away from garden design to creating urban settings that fulfil our contemporary, consumer-oriented demands, less attention is devoted to the complexity of planting design. In fact, plants are one of the most challenging materials in design because as living things they change over seasons, they grow and die. The dimension of time therefore plays a significant role in design concepts and objectives.

    The course considers the emergence of ‘green infrastructure’ which can be defined as networks of greens spaces and water systems that deliver multiple environmental, social and economical values and services to urban communities. The value of ‘green infrastructure’ in urban landscapes is becoming increasingly recognised around the world as the rapid expansion of towns and cities create the risk of unliveable and unhealthy environments. Plants can create more than just the ‘green solution’ or the ‘fluff round the edges’ and provide multiple benefits including enhanced public use opportunities, urban ecosystems, social and community well being including physical and mental health. Debates on the way we think about cities emphasise the importance of greenery in our built environment and a specific focus in this course lies in the exploration of possibilities for planting design in contemporary architectural and urban contexts including roof garden and green walls.

    This course approaches the use of plants and design solutions considering plant species and selection in regards to Green Infrastructure and other outcomes beyond the aesthetic to also consider food security, biodiversity, climate change, human health, increased urban density, water and energy issues.

    This course celebrates the aesthetic role of plants. This design perspective includes: spatial composition with plants and their forms, structures and textures, the specifics of plant selection. Through the analysis of precedents we will investigate the aesthetics of planting design and develop an understanding of historic and contemporary principals. Equally important are issues of installation and maintenance.

    Finally, students will combine their analysis skills with their theoretical knowledge of horticultural, functional, and ecological aspects. In individual design projects, students will develop design solutions for site-specific conditions and learn to apply appropriate representation techniques for designing with plants.

    Course Timetable

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



    Schedule
    Date Theme Lecturer Lecture Studio/Site Visit Assign Time         
    1 06 March - - - - - - -
    2



    13 March



    An intro to composition of plants, space, l background, and terminology Amanda Balmer



    Introduction to Course and Historical Precedents

    Street Trees and City Tree Tour


    Project A



    Intro Lecture City Walk


    12.00-1.00 1.00 -2.00 2.00 -3.00

    3



    20 March



    Living Architecture and applications


    Graeme Hopkins



    Green Infrastructure 'Life support for human habitats'

    Green Infrastructure Pechakucha Class City Green Wall Site Visit Project A



    Lecture Class Crit Site Visit


    12.00-1.00 1.00 -2.30 2.30 -3.00

    4


    27 March


    Analysing and altering the site

    Amanda Balmer


    Site brief, elements and design principles/exploration. Project Presentation Site Briefing and Analysis Project B


    Class Crit Project Brief Site Visit 12.00-1.30 1.30 -2.30 2.30 -3.00
    5


    03 April


    Plants meet Architecture, green infrastructure and applications Sheryn Pitman


    Green Infrastructure 'Life support for human habitats ' Botanic Gardens Visit to Research Plant materials Project C


    Lecture Class Crit Studio

    12.00-1.00 1.00 -2.30 2.30 -3.00
    6



    10 April



    Place Making



    Warwick Keates



    Place Making and Open Space Analysis, Design and Outcomes

    Site Analysis, Issues, Opportunities, Precedents and Concept Design Project D (1)


    Lecture Studio



    12.00-1.00
    1.00 -3.00 


    Mid Semester Break ( 18, 25 April) 
    7





    01 May





    Plants as the Medium, characteristics, purpose and manipulation

    Jo Russell Clarke




    Time and Change: seasonal change, flower aspects, foliage, fruit/seeds, pruning, rebuilding, refurbishing and temporary gardens Presentation of Concept Design




    Project D (1)




    Lecture Studio





    12.00-1.00 1.00 -3.00




    8



    08 May




    Relating Plants to Site Design from a practioner perspective

    Amanda Balmer



    Planting Design Approach


    Site Visit Nursery


    Project D (1)


    Lecture
    Class Crit
    Site Visit

    12.00-1.00
    1.00- 2.30
    2.30 – 5.30

     

    9


    15 May


    Further Plant Knowledge through Characteristics Tanya Court


    Fruit


    Final Planting Plan Selection of appropriate plant material Project D (2)

    Lecture Studio


    12.00-1.00 1.00 -3.00

    10




    22 May




    Refining the design




    John Barrie
    John Zwar

    Soils and Mulches




    Studio workshop & project review Calc. plant masses, graphics and perspectives Project D (2)



    Lecture Studio




    12.00-1.00 1.00 -3.00



    11




    29 May




    Understanding the Planting Environment and practical knowledge for planning/supervision Amanda Balmer




    Implementation: Soil Conditions, Plant Preparation, Planting, Initial and Follow Up Maintenance Final Project review and feedback


    Project D (2)



    Lecture Studio




    12.00-1.00 1.00 -3.00



    12

    05 June

    Presentation and Assessment of Final
    Project
    Project D (2) Present

    09.00-1.00





  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Demonstrate the ability to research and select plants for particular design characters and site conditions and to develop an individual plant palette.
    2 Demonstrate a competency to respond to a design brief and develop critical thinking skills in analysing site, projects and scenarios within the context of site and place
    3 Understanding the design potential and characteristics of plants in regards to their physiognomy, requirements, and performance and the dimension of time.
    4 Demonstrate skills in exploratory design ideation and informed conceptual propositions.
    5 Further understanding of historical plant design and plant designer precedents.
    6 Development of ‘Green Infrastructure’ principles and the relationship of a plants within this principle
    7 Encouragement of students to work independently and rapidly to meet design briefs, course outlines and project deadlines.
    8 Demonstrate a competency to articulate and critically evaluate design intentions, applications and outcomes.
    9 Understand the relationship between representation, analysis and design.
    10 Demonstrate an extension of representation and presentation skills developed in preceding subjects. A high quality digital graphics will be required using Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and hand graphics to explore, develop and communicate design approaches as appropriate.
    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)
    (a) - (j)
    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
    (a) - (j)
    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
    (h) - (j)
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    (b) - (j)
    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
    (a) - (j)
    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
    (a) - (j)
  • Learning Resources
    Recommended Resources
    Reference books:
    Hopkins, G & Goodwin, C (2011.) Living Architecture:Green Roofs and Walls. CSIRO Publishing:Victoria

    Leszczynski, N. A. (1999). Planting the Landscape: A Professional Approach to Garden Design. New York: John Wiley & Sons ABC Gardening Australia (2004).Flora: The Gardeners Bible. NSW: Global Book Publishing.

    Macgowan, T. (2009). Transforming Uncommon Ground ‘The gardens of Vladimir Sitta’ Melbourne: Blooming Books.

    Barbaux, S. (2010).JardinsEcologiques : Ecology, source of creation, France: ICI Interface.

    Conran, T. & Pearson, D. (1998). The Essential Garden Book: The Comprehensive Source Book of Garden Design. London: Conran Octopus.

    Contemporary Landscape Architecture, 2008, Cologne: Daab.

    Dashorst, G, & Jessop, I. (1990).Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills, Kenthurst NSW: Kangaroo Press.

    Dunnett, N. &Clayden, A. (2007). Rain Gardens: Managing Water Sustainably in the Garden and Designed Landscape. Timber Press: Portland.

    Hobhouse, P, (2002).The Story of Gardens, DK, London.

    Lambertini, A. &Leenhardt, J. (2007) Vertical Gardens: Bringing the City to Life. Thames and Hudson: London.

    Margolis, L, Robinson, A.(2007)Living Systems: Innovative Materials and Technologies for Landscape Architecture, Birkhäuser, Switzerland.

    Richardson, T. (2008) Avant Gardeners. Thames and Hudson: London.

    Snodgrass, E.C. & Snodgrass, L.L. (2009). Green Roof Plants: A Resource and Planting Guide. Timber Press: Portland.

    Uffelen, C (ed.) 2008, 1000X Landscape Architecture, Braun, Berlin.

    Weller, Richard et al. (2005) Room 4.1.3: Innovations in Landscape Architecture.Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.

    Thomson, P. (2002). Australian Planting Design. Melbourne: Lothian Books.

    Speaker Series:
    The School has a fortnightly lecture series where respected practitioners and academics from the field deliver a public lecture on contemporary architectural practice. In order to expand your knowledge of contemporary directions in design it is recommended that you attend these sessions. The sessions are scheduled for Tuesday 6pm at the Horace Lamb Lecture Theatre, and the exact detail of dates and speakers is available from the School website and the Front Office.

    Academic Support:
    The Professions Learning Centre (PLC) provides postgraduate coursework students of the Faculty of Professions free academic skills advice on critical analysis and structuring assignments, paraphrasing, referencing, oral presentation skills and other skills to assist with success at university. You are encouraged to take advantage of the service to enable you to improve your performance in your studies. To contact a Learning Advisor please send an email to professions.learningcentre@adelaide.edu.au
    Online Learning
    www.stateflora.com.au Download .pdf plant catalogue

    www.metrotrees.com.au Catalogue and plant information

    www.flemings.com.au Catalogue and plant information

    Online Learning:
    Lecture summaries, image pdfs, handouts, links for further reference and additional material will be posted on the MyUni website following the relevant class.
    Discussion board will form the initial point of contact for a course related enquiries. Discussions will be opened up each assignment and will act as an online collaborative learning environment with student engagement and peer assistance vital.

    University Email:
    The school uses the University email system to get in touch with the students. So it is imperative that you check your email regularly and keep up to date with any new announcements.

    Noticeboard / Handbook:
    General information about the activities at the School is available online from the Student Noticeboard which can be accessed at https://unified.adelaide.edu.au/group/professons-student-architecture/current-student. Students can also access a copy of the Student Handbook at the following link: https://unified.adelaide.edu.au/group/professons-student-architecture/current-student
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course uses lectures, tutorials, seminars, site visits, crit sessions and presentations to gain knowledge required to complete assignments. To do well in this course students must bring their draft assignments for review. Receiving feedback, including from your peers is critical to developing deign thinking and successful design outcomes. It allows opportunities to improve and develop.

    Lectures
    Attendance at lectures is compulsory and an engagement with material/concepts presented will be required in the development of assessable studio exercises and assignments.

    Studios
    Studios are a learning based environment and dependant on peer review and engagement to develop critical thinking, feedback and progress reviews. Exploratory design exercises and progress crits will encourage strong exploration of contemporary design approaches and presentation techniques. Studio will be the majority of the contact time for individual engagement and assignment presentations and crits will be undertaken at this time. Studio tasks, group work and peer reviews will compromise 60% of the grade.
    Workload

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

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

    The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote at least 48 hours per week to their studies. Accordingly, students undertaking this 3 unit course are expected to devote 12 hours per week to contact activities and self-guided studies.

    Based on this framework here are some figures that might assist workload management:

    Total workload hours: 12 Hrs per week x 13 weeks = 156 Hrs
    Total contact hours: 3 Hrs per week x 12 weeks = 36 Hrs
    Total self-guided study: 156 Hrs – 36 Hrs = 120 Hrs

    These 120 hours should be used towards preparation of weekly tasks and for completion of the various assignments associated with the course, including development of various skills required to complete the same. Please organise your time wisely. This is a 3unit course. Students in this course are expected to attend three hours lecture, tutorials, site visits and studio each week and devote 9 hours of self-directed learning to this course. Tutorials and studio are an important component of your learning in this course. The communication skills developed in tutorials and practical sessions by regularly and actively participating in discussions are considered to be most important by the School and are highly regarded by employers and professional bodies.
    Learning Activities Summary
    Week Topic Lecture
    1 An intro to composition
    of plants and space, conceptual
    backgrounds and terminology
    Introduction to Course and Historial space, precedents, street trees
    2 Living Architecture and application Green infrastructure 'Life support for human habitats'
    3 Analysing and altering the site Site brief, elements and design principles / exploration
    4 Site visit & Nursery & plant research Site visit Salisbury & Nursery
    5 Public holiday
    6 Plants meet Architecture, green
    infrastructure & applications
    Green infrastructure 'Evidence Base'
    7 Place Making Place making and open space analysis, design & outcomes
    8 Plants as the medium, characteristics,
    purpose and manipulation
    Time and change: seasonal change, flower aspects, foliage, fruit/seeds, pruning
    rebuilding, refurbishing and temporary gardens
    9 Further plant knowledge through
    characteristics
    Fruit
    Planting design approach
    10 Refining the design Soils & mulches
    11 Understanding the planting environment
    & practical knowledge for planning &
    supervision
    Implementation: soil conditions, plant preparation, planting initial & follow up
    maintenance, weeding, pest control
    12 Presentation & assessment of
    final project
  • 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

    Week

    Issue Date

    Assignment

    Name

    Due Date

    Weight

    Submission Format

    1

    04 March

    project A

    puchakama designer precedent presentation

    11 March

    10%

    Studio Presentation

    2

    11 March

    project B

    plant research and identification assessment

    01 April

    20%

    Report submission and studio presentation

    3

    18 March

    project C(1)

    concept exploration and green infrastructure research, presentation

    29 April

    20%

    Studio Presentation and Class Crit

    7

    29 April

    project C (2)

    final project and presentation

    02 June

    40%

    Final Presentation and Peer Crit

    All

    04 March

    lecture and studio attendance and studio participation

    03 June

    10%

    Final Presentation and Peer Crit



    Assessment Detail
    Marking & Feedback (General)
    Final results for the course will only be available through Access Adelaide and students should not contact the course coordinator or the tutors for the same.
    Feedback for in-class submissions will only be available during the tutorial as oral critique in the style of studio wall-crits. Students should arrange with peers to make notes for reference.

    Submission/Notes on Assessment
    For information on the University’s Good Practice Guidelines for assessment, refer to:
    http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/700/

    1. Assessment criteria will be used to assess students’ work. The criteria for each assignment will be
        indicated on the assignment handout.
    2. To gain a pass in this course, all assignments need to be passed in all their parts (> 50%).
        Students can redeem failed assignments by resubmitting the work as academic supplementary
        assessment. Please see below and the School's Handbook 2010 for details on resubmissions and
        maximum possible marks.
    3. The quality of English expression is considered to be an integral part of the assessment process.
        Marks may be deducted because of poor language skills. CLPD provides academic research and
        language support. For information see http://www.adelaide.edu.au/clpd/all/ Assessment grades will
        be provided in class/tutorial sessions.
    Submission
    All studio presentations and pin ups to be completed and ready for presentation/pin up at 9am, late submissions will not be accepted and automatic fail grade applied.
    Project D (1) and Project D (2) to be submitted to the Submission Box by Wednesday 5pm the day before the assignment is due, late submissions will not be accepted.

    The submission dates and locations for various assignments associated with this course are:

    Submissions:
    All submissions must include Student Name and Student ID Number.

    General:
    Submissions without Student Name or ID Number will not be considered for marking, and will receive zero marks in accordance with the guidelines.
    In addition, all assignments need to have an Assignment Cover Sheet which must be signed and dated by the student before submission. Please attach the cover sheet in front of the document, to the top left hand corner.
    Please adhere to submission deadlines and follow instructions provided.
    Students must not submit work for an assignment that has previously been submitted for this course or any other course without prior approval from the Course Coordinator.
    On occasion, the lecturer/tutor may wish to retain students’ work for future reference and the relevant student will be informed at such a time.

    Early Submission:
    There is an early submission box located on Level 4 which is cleared out daily at 10am. Please mark your submission clearly before placing in box.

    Late Submission:
    The school will NOT accept late submissions and any such assignment will receive zero marks. This also applies to electronic submissions.
    Printing delays & hard disk crashes will not be entertained as legitimate causes for delay, so please ensure that the work is finished in advance.

    Re-submission:
    The school has a resubmission policy whereby students can redeem failed work by submitting additional work for a maximum of 50%.

    Good practice:
    Students should ensure that they regularly backup their work on multiple locations as hard-disk crashes are an unfortunate reality.
    When relying on community printing facilities, students should attempt to finish their work in advance to avoid unnecessary delays.
    Students must retain a copy of all assignments submitted (digital or hardcopy), as originals may be lost during the submission process.

    For modified arrangements of submission and assessment due to special circumstances see the following Assessment Task Extension(s) & Additional Assessment guidelines:

    Modified Arrangements (General):
    Students can apply for extensions or modified arrangements based on Medical conditions or other Extenuating circumstances. However, students need to submit their application along with supporting documents within 5 business days of the condition becoming applicable.
    The application forms are available from the Front Office and at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/exams/mod_arrange.html and need to be submitted at the Front Office along with any supporting documentation.
    Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee acceptance and the Course Coordinator will inform the applicant if the application is accepted. Please DO NOT contact the Course Coordinator directly.

    Medical Reasons:
    In case of an extended medical condition which makes it impossible for the student to submit the work on time, an Application for Assessment Task Extension due to Medical Circumstances may be lodged with the Front Office along with a doctor’s certificate within 5 business days.

    Extenuating:
    If the student is unable to submit the work on time due to extenuating Circumstances an Application for Assessment Task Extension due to Extenuating Circumstances may be lodged with the Front Office.
    Please note that this is only available for certain military, religious, or legal obligations and does not extend to minor personal problems. (Refer to Student Handbook at http://www.architecture.adelaide.edu.au/current/resources/ for further details or contact Student Advisor).

    Compassionate Grounds:
    In case of certain extraordinary personal problems students can apply for extensions based on compassionate grounds. However, these must first be discussed with the Course Coordinator in person through appointment during the assigned office hours.
    To maintain privacy relating to personal issues students can contact the University Transition and Advisory Service at 8313 0100 or transition@adelaide.edu.au, or approach the Counselling Service on 83035663 for an individual appointment.

    Additional Assessment:
    If a student receives a Fail grade for the course with an overall mark between 45 and 49, they may be eligible for an Additional Assessment which would allow them to get a maximum of 50 Pass for the Course.
    Additional Assessment offers are made by the School and the student will be informed directly once these are made available.

    Disability:
    Students who have a disability and wish to seek modified submission or assessment arrangements need to contact the University Disability Services at 83135962 or disability@adelaide.edu.au for supporting documentation and then communicate these to the Course Coordinator in person through appointment during the assigned office hours.

    Elite Athlete:
    Students who have national/international sporting commitments and wish to seek modified submission or assessment arrangements need to register with the University Elite Athlete Support Scheme at http://www.adelaide.edu.au/eliteathletes/ and then communicate this to the Course Coordinator in person through appointment during the assigned office hours.
    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

    This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.

    IMPORTANT - SCHOOL SUBMISSION POLICY
    Submission dates and arrangements for each assignment will be clearly communicated for each course. The current (2011) School policy does NOT allow any extensions*. LATE submissions will not be received by staff, and the assignment receives zero.

    *The exception to this Policy occurs when students have in-place Medical, Compassionate or Extenuating Circumstances approved by the Course Coordinator on official School documentation. Please see below and the School's Handbook 2009 for details.

    PRESENTATION OF ASSIGNMENTS
    1. Students must retain a copy of all assignments submitted.
    2. All physical submissions of individual assignments must be attached to an Assignment Cover Sheet
        which must be signed and dated by the student before submission. Lecturers will withhold student’s
        results until such time as the student has signed the Assignment Cover Sheet.
    3. All physical submissions of group assignments must be attached to a Group Assignment Cover Sheet
        which must be signed and dated by all group members before submission. All team members are
        expected to contribute approximately equally to a group assignment.
    4. Markers can refuse to accept assignments, which do not have a signed acknowledgement of the
        University’s policy on plagiarism (refer to policy on plagiarism below).
  • 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.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.