UNIT OUTLINE
ZAS118
SUSTAINABILITY
Semester 2, 2021
Dr Brigid Morrison
NOTICE:
This Unit Outline refers to the Unit Outline Essential Information resource which includes
information, policies and requirements relevant to this unit. You must read the Essential
Information resource as it is considered part of this Unit Outline.
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B
CONTACT DETAILS
Course Coordinator – Applied Science
Dr Robin Katersky Barnes (Launceston Campus)
Email: robin.barnes@utas.edu.au
Phone: 03 6324 3539
Room location and number: Z219
Course Coordinator – Diploma of Sustainable Living
Anna Flittner
Email: anna.flittner@utas.edu.au
Unit Coordinator
Dr Brigid Morrison (Launceston Campus)
Email: brigid.morrison@utas.edu.au
Experiential Education Coordinator:
Dr Cherie Hawkins (Cradle Coast Campus D2.10)
Email: Cherie.Hawkins@utas.edu.au
Academic Coach:
Melissa Finnen (Cradle Coast Campus, D2.08)
Email: Melissa.finnen@utas.edu.au
Other Teachers/Tutors
Dr Robin Katersky Barnes
Email: robin.barnes@utas.edu.au
Dr Mike Kidd
Email: M.Kidd@utas.edu.au
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ZAS118 Sustainability
CONTENTS
WHAT IS THIS UNIT ABOUT?
4
UNIT DESCRIPTION
4
PRACTICAL APPROACHES TO LEARNING AT UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
4
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
5
ALTERATIONS BASED ON STUDENT FEEDBACK
5
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
5
ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE
6
ASSESSMENT DETAILS
6
WEEKLY CONTENT, TUTORIALS AND WORKSHOPS
10
RESOURCES
11
UNIT SCHEDULE
12
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ZAS118 Sustainability
WHAT IS THIS UNIT ABOUT?
Unit Description
In this unit, you will learn approaches to make a difference in the workplace, community or
at home by drawing on a framework that assembles the 17 United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals into 6 organised groups. The framework is in line with the latest global
efforts and will help you contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by
2030, and a just, and sustainable world by 2050. You will identify environmental, social, and
economic implications of contemporary production systems, and communicate approaches
to sustainability and to aid decision-making. This deeply interdisciplinary unit explores
transformation across education, health, energy, sustainable food production, land, water
and oceans, sustainable cities and communities. Digital transformation and circular design
underpin all of these transformations. You will learn why we need to rethink and redesign
the way we make and consume things, while examining success stories along the way. As
immediate and ambitious action is necessary to achieve a sustainable future, you will
explore, ‘how are we going to get there?’ as well as your own role in contributing to change.
This unit also introduces learning through practice by exposing you to authentic learning
experiences. These experiences are placed at the centre of learning and assessment, so you
have the opportunity to develop the skills, knowledge and behaviours necessary to respond
to industry, community and/or global needs.
You will be introduced to:
-
a range of methods, tools, techniques and approaches to practice
-
principles and perspectives such as values, ethics, empathy and leadership in real
world scenarios
-
reflection and deliberative thinking as a means of developing knowledge, skills,
attitudes and aspirations
-
ways of understanding problems and developing solutions through active inquiry.
Practical Approaches to Learning at University College
The University College is committed to providing students with opportunities to engage in
practical learning experiences. Every unit is therefore driven by at least one approach that is
problem or project-based, or that involves work-integrated learning. In this unit, you will
participate in finding local level ways to contribute to a new global framework to organise
the Sustainable Development Goals and accelerate progress toward a sustainable world. In
this way you will gain skills in unpacking complex structural transformations and make
global concepts scalable for local impact. You will explore challenges and innovations and
consider yourself in the context of work or personal practice.
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ZAS118 Sustainability
These activities allow you to develop discipline-specific skills, knowledge and behaviours,
alongside a range of employability skills and professional attributes. Some of these include,
for example, communication, social, cultural, and ethical responsibility, planning and critical
reflection. You will evidence the development of these discipline and professional skills,
knowledge and behaviours in your Practice Manual1, with the support of Academic
Coaches2, teachers and tutors.
To find more information on the University College’s approach to teaching and learning,
click here to view in the Unit Outline Essential Information resource.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1. Identify and assess the environmental, social and economic implications for a
sustainable world
2. Describe approaches to sustainability that allow us to rethink and redesign
production and consumption
3. Communicate information to support decision-making for sustainable outcomes and
propose solutions or innovations
4. Reflect on your own role and approaches to practice that contribute to achieving the
sustainable development goals
Alterations Based on Student Feedback
Based on both staff and student feedback, changes have been made to improve the content
and delivery of the unit over the past few years, and include:
1. Revision of the unit description, ILOs and assessments to link to the Diploma of
Sustainable Living and an online delivery.
2. Revised assessment tasks to allow for more self-directed, active inquiry and
assessments for learning
The Practice Manual contains all portfolio requirements for the course, including the Professional
Development Plan (PDP). The PDP is for recording and monitoring goals and progress.
2 The Academic Coaches mentor students in personal, academic and professional development and
‘evidencing’ this.
1
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ZAS118 Sustainability
HOW WILL I BE ASSESSED?
Assessment Schedule
Assessment Task
Date Due
Percent
Weighting
Links to
Intended
Learning
Outcomes
Engagement Tasks:
Engagement Task 1: Unit Outline
Declaration
Week 2
25/7/2021
0%
-
Engagement Task 2: Welcome
Discussion Post
Week 2
25/7/2021
0%
-
Assessment Task 1: Environmental
Scan (E-Scan)
Week 3,
1/8/2021
11:59pm
20%
ILOs 1, 3, 4
Assessment Task 2: Photographic
Essay
Week 6,
22/8/2021
11:59pm
35%
ILOs 2, 3, 4
Assessment Task 3: Poster
Week 11,
3/10/2021
11:59pm
45%
ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4
Assessment Tasks:
Assessment Details
Engagement Task 1
Task
description
Unit outline declaration
1. Read this Unit Outline.
2. Go to the ZAS118 MyLO page. Find the ‘Quizzes’ section in MyLO and
follow the instructions and complete the activity by the due date
Engagement activities provide opportunities to explore and learn, and
receive early feedback. These tasks are significant to the learning experience
and often provide the basis for some assessment tasks. We therefore highly
recommend that you complete them.
Format
N/A
Due Date
Week 2, Sunday 25 July 2021 11:59pm
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ZAS118 Sustainability
Engagement Task 2
Task
description
Welcome Padlet Post
1. Go to the ZAS118 MyLO site
2. Go to ‘Content’ and in the ‘getting started’ section. Find the
Welcome to ZAS118 module.
3. At the bottom of this page, you will see a Padlet Board titled
Introduce yourself.
4. Briefly Introduce yourself and include the following information:
a. Where you are taking this unit from (i.e. Tasmania,
Queensland etc)
b. Why you enrolled in this unit.
Engagement activities provide opportunities to explore and learn, and
receive early feedback. These tasks are significant to the learning experience
and often provide the basis for some assessment tasks. We therefore highly
recommend that you complete them.
Format
N/A
Due Date
Week 2, Sunday 25 July 2021 11:59pm
Assessment Task 1
Task
description
Environmental Scan (E-Scan)
E-Scans are a useful way of garnering insight into contemporary challenges
within sectors and across societal groups and how these issues may be
perceived.
For this assessment, you will be using the E-Scan approach to explore
sustainability issues within your discipline and how these issues are
portrayed through the lenses of academia; government; advocacy
groups/NGOs; and the media.
You will list the sustainability issues related to your topic selected from the
following list:
•Salmon
•Beer
•Plant based meat alternative
•Mobile phones
•Bitcoin
•Computer networks
•Face masks
•Wheat
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ZAS118 Sustainability
You will review a range of sources, that will be discussed during tutorials, to
compile the list. The information should be presented succinctly using mainly
dot points that are supported by diagrams, tables, or maps. The information
should be organised by way of headings and fit onto two A4 sheets. You will
be provided with examples during the Tutorial.
See assessment instructions in MyLO for detailed information.
This will be made available at least two weeks before the due date.
Format
Two A4 pages
Criterion
Descriptor
Criterion 1
Use evidence from literature and industry
sources to support descriptions and
evaluations of contemporary issues
30
1, 3
Criterion 2
Analyse information to support decisionmaking, problem solving or innovation for
sustainable outcomes
30
1, 3
Criterion 3
Communicate ideas and information using
E-scan format
20
1, 3
Criterion 4
Reflect on contributions to achieving the
sustainable development goals
20
4
Task length
Two A4 pages
Task Weight
20% of the overall mark for the unit
Due by date
Week 3, Sunday 1 August 2021 11:59pm
Weighting
Links to Intended
Learning Outcomes:
Assessment Task 2
Task
description
Photographic Essay
You will design and produce a photographic essay that illustrates your
understanding of sustainability, by identifying a production process in an
emerging economy.
The selected photos and your annotations will highlight the specific
challenges that developing economies face, compared to developed
economies.
The selection and formatting of images must be logically set out and
collectively establish a theme. You will give explanation to the images by way
of captions, that contain both descriptive and explanatory information.
See assessment instructions in MyLO for detailed information.
This will be made available at least two weeks before the due date.
Format
Photographic Essay
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Criterion
Descriptor
Criterion 1
Identify sustainability issues in an emerging
economy
40%
3, 4
Criterion 2
Differentiate sustainability issues between
emerging and developed economies
40%
2, 3
Criterion 3
Assess and communicate ideas and
information in visual representations
20%
2, 3, 4
Task length
4-6 images in total, each with ~100-word annotation per image.
4-5 images for the emerging economy
1-2 images for the developed economy
Task Weight
35% of the overall mark for the unit
Due by date
Week 6, Sunday 22 August 2021 11:59pm
Weighting
Links to Intended
Learning Outcomes:
Assessment Task 3
Task
description
Poster
You will identify and investigate a circular-design product from your
specialisation or an industry of your choice and create a poster that
explains and depicts:
a. what is meant by the term ‘circular economy’
b. how it is different to a ‘linear economy’
c. the key elements of circular design with reference to your
example,
d. the circular design example, and
e. the key challenges for broad adoption of a circular economy
and how you can personally encourage and engage in it
(reflection)
In-text citations must be included in the poster body-text in Harvardstyle.
A full reference list in Harvard style must be provided on a separate A4
sheet.
See assessment instructions in MyLO for detailed information.
This will be made available at least two weeks before the due date.
Format
Poster (A3) + reference list
Criterion
Descriptor
Criterion 1
Use evidence to compare a circular
economy with a linear economy
Weighting
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30%
Links to Intended
Learning Outcomes:
1, 3
ZAS118 Sustainability
Criterion 2
Analyse and evaluate an existing example
of a circular design
30%
1, 2, 3
Criterion 3
Communicate ideas and information using
prescribed formats and styles
20%
2, 3, 4
Criterion 4
Reflect on assessment task outcomes and
personal responses
20%
4
Task Length
A3 Poster with reference list
Task Weight
45% of the overall mark for the unit
Date
Week 11, Sunday 3 October 2021 11:59pm
Weekly Content, Tutorials and Workshops
This program is delivered in blended mode through a combination of online instruction and
activities, and tutorials; you are expected to engage in all activities, and participate in
tutorials.
Online: All digital content is delivered online through MyLO. Content is uploaded weekly
and you can work through it at your own pace during the week. However, we recommend
you take the advice of course and unit coordinators to ensure you follow any specific unit
guidelines. There may also be practical activities, engagement tasks or other work that helps
you to connect theory with practice.
Tutorials: Attendance at tutorials is highly recommended as these experiences often
provide opportunities to apply theory in practice; network with industry experts; engage in
activities that are practiced in industry; visit organisations to observe and learn about
practices and processes; participate in project work; collaborate with peers and teaching
staff; give and receive feedback, and prepare for assessment tasks. Tutorials are a
particularly important component of the learning experience as they include regular
opportunities for practice-based activities, group work and discussion, questions, and
meaningful exercises that prepare you for assessment. If you are unable to attend tutorials,
please contact the Unit Coordinator to plan a way forward.
PLEASE NOTE: Attendance at tutorials (online) are required for this unit, if you are unable to
attend tutorials, they will be recorded so you can revisit them at a time that is convenient to
you.
Tutorials: Time TBC
Assessment Tasks: To be considered for a passing mark in any unit, ALL assessment tasks
must be attempted and submitted.
Engagement Activities: Engagement activities provide opportunities to explore and learn,
and receive early feedback. These tasks are significant to the learning experience and often
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ZAS118 Sustainability
provide the basis for some assessment tasks. We therefore highly recommend that you
complete them.
PLEASE NOTE: In this unit, both engagement tasks are non-assessed but highly
recommended.
Refer to the program schedule below for dates.
For more information on student expectations please click here.
Resources
Required Readings
All required readings are available online and accessed via the online content and activities
through MyLO.
Recommended Readings
All recommended readings are available online and accessed via the online content and
activities through MyLO.
Reading Lists
You can access the Reading List for this unit from the link in MyLO, or by going to the
Reading Lists page on the University Library website.
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Unit Schedule
WEEK DATE
BEGINNING
TOPIC/ MODULE/
FOCUS AREA
ASSESSMENT
DUE
ACTIVITIES
1
12/7/2021
Introduction &
Sustainability in
Industry
2
19/7/2021
What does
transformation mean?
Engagement
Task 1 & 2 due
Online content (Week 2 on MyLO)
3
26/7/2021
Transformation 1
Education, gender, and
inequality
Assessment
Task 1 due
Online content (Week 3 on MyLO)
Online content (Week 1 on MyLO)
Tutorial
Transformation 2
4
2/8/2021
9/8/2021
6
16/8/2021
Transformation 4
Sustainable food, land,
water, and oceans
7
23/8/2021
Transformation 5
Sustainable cities and
communities
5
Online content (Week 4 on MyLO)
Health well-being and
demography
Transformation 3
Energy,
decarbonisation, and
sustainable industry
Tutorial
Online content (Week 5 on MyLO)
Tutorial
Assessment
Task 2 due
Online content (Week 6 on MyLO)
Online content (Week 7 on MyLO)
Tutorial
Mid-semester break 30 August-5 September, 2021
8
6/9/2021
Transformation 6 Digital
revolution for
sustainable
development
9
13/9/2021
Circularity and decoupling
Online content (Week 9 on MyLO)
10
20/9/2021
Circularity and decoupling
Online content (Week 10 on MyLO)
11
27/9/2021
Leave no one behind
12
4/10/2021
Review
13
11/10/2021
Poster session
Online content (Week 8 on MyLO)
Tutorial
Assessment
Task 3 due
Online content (Week 11 on MyLO)
Tutorial
Online content (Week 12 on MyLO)
Tutorial
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