GEOG 5046 - ICTs and Sustainability

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2014

Information and Communication technologies (ICTs), such as computers, the internet and mobile phones, are a major driver of social and cultural change, and have rapidly transformed economies, polities and societies around the world. The course covers the complex intersections of ICTs with the global and national challenges of environmental, social and economic sustainability. The various debates and approaches of the role and impact of ICTs for achieving social, economic, cultural, ecological and political sustainability objectives are examined. ICTs are seen by many as the most important tool for greening economies and addressing climate changes and put human societies on a more sustainable trajectory. The course critically engages with the opportunities and benefits of ICTs for sustainability but also with the potential threats of ICTS to sustainability, such as e-waste, the depletion of rare earth minerals and the increasing carbon footprint and energy consumption through ICT production and use. The course covers topics such as the rise of the information or network society and knowledge capitalism, the role of ICTs for the sustainable use of natural resources and in climate change mitigation and adaptation, ICTs for sustainable urban development, and ICTs and e-learning for sustainability

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Course Details

Course Code	GEOG 5046
Course	ICTs and Sustainability
Coordinating Unit	Geography, Environment and Population
Term	Semester 2
Level	Postgraduate Coursework
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	6
Contact	3 hours per week
Prerequisites	Completed degree (72 units)
Assessment	seminar participation (10%), 2500 word seminar journal (20%), 1000 word group presentation (30%), 5000 word research essay (40%)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Thomas Wanner

Course Timetable

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

Course Learning Outcomes

At the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1	understand the link between ICTs and achieving sustainability goals
2	understand the various dimensions of sustainability and the role of ICTs for each sustainability goal
3	discuss the strengths and weaknesses of ICTs for sustainability
4	critically engage with the current debates and approaches of ICTs and sustainability
5	research a project on ICTs and sustainability and develop solution to a problem
6	understand the impact and role of culture and individuals in shaping practice and future role of ICTs and sustainability
7	demonstrate high level critical analysis and thinking skills
8	apply high quality written and verbal communications skills
9	work effectively in a seminar situation
10	show highly developed, and computer-based, research and presentation skills

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
The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner.	3,4, 5
An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems.	5, 7
Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication.	7, 8, 9
A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies.	10
A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life.	1-7
A commitment to the highest standards of professional endeavour and the ability to take a leadership role in the community.	5, 9
An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities.	7-10

Learning Resources

Recommended Resources

Students will be provided with the course guide, reading material, web-links and other learning resources on MyUni once they have enrolled.

Online Learning

MyUni is used for communication with the students, assessment submission and for the provision of additional learning resources.

Learning & Teaching Modes

The teaching and learning is based on peer-assisted and peer group learning; where the staff member facilitating the workshop style seminar is more a facilitator of the learning. Students develop their critical analysis and thinking about the role and impact of ICTs for sustainability through peer-assisted learning in regular seminars and group work. Research, problem-solving skills are developed through case studies and finding solutions to sustainability issues through ICTs.

Workload

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

WORKLOAD	TOTAL HOURS
1 x 3 hour seminar per week	36 hours
6 hours research per week	72 hours
6 hours mandated reading per week	72 hours
6 hours assignment preparation per week	72 hours
5 hours writing work per week	60 hours
TOTAL	312 hours for 12 weeks semester

Learning Activities Summary

The course covers many different aspects of the linkage between ICTs and sustainability:

Information, Knowledge and the Network Society
ICTs and Sustainability: current debates and approaches
ICTs and the sustainable use of natural resources
The Sustainability of ICTs: e-waste and e-efficiency
The inter/national political economy of ICTs and sustainability I: rare earth minerals
The inter/national political economy of ICTs and Sustainabilty II: digital divide
ICTs and Greening Economies
ICTs and Sustainability: Climate Change
E-Learning: education for sustainability and social learning
ICTs and environmental risk and disaster management
ICTs for Sustainable Urban Development
The politics of ICTs and sustainability

Specific Course Requirements

Participation in the seminars is compulsory.

Small Group Discovery Experience

Students work together in small groups in the seminar using different case studies of ICTs and sustainability. There is a group work presentation about their research project in the seminars.

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

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

Assessment Summary

Assessment Task	Task Type	Weighting	Learning Outcome
600 word Research Proposal	Formative and summative	10%	1-5
5000 word Research Essay Peer assessment of other essay	Formative and summative	30% 10%	1-5, 7, 8
Group presentation of ICT and sustainability case study (equivalent to 1000 words)	Formative and summative	30%	7, 9, 10
2000 word Seminar Journal	Summative	20%	1-4, 6, 7
Seminar participation	Formative and summative	10%	3,4, 6, 7, 9

Assessment Related Requirements

All assessment tasks need to be submitted for assessment in order to be able to pass the course (subject to the overall end of course mark being 50% or above).

Assessment Detail

Research proposal (10%, 600 words)
Students will prepare a short research proposal (600 words) by week 4 so that they started the process for the research essay and get some early feedback.
Research essay (30%, 5,000 words)
Student research and critically analyse an ICTs and sustainability issue.
Peer review of other research essay (10%)
a peer review process is built into the research essay. Students prepare feedback of other students' research essay before final submission of own assignment.
Group presentation of ICT and sustainability case study (30%; 1,000 words)
Students work in groups in the seminar on different case studies. Their findings are presented to the class in form of a PowerPoint presentation.esearch.
Seminar Journal (20%, 2,000 words)
Students write a regular reflective journal of their preparation for the seminar and their reflections of learning from the seminar.
Participation (10%)
Seminars are compulsory. Students are expected to come prepared and to be actively engaged in the seminar teaching and learning activities.

Submission

Assignments will be submitted electronically on MyUni. Turnitin is used to check for plagiarism.

Late submissions are accepted but will incur a penalty of 5% off the final mark per day late (including the weekend).

Assignments will be returned electronically on MyUni (in MyGrades). The expected date of return of assignments is 2-3 weeks after submission.

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.
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.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator