CRITICAL THINKING STANDARDS
Adapted from the AAC&U VALUE Rubrics and acknowledged with thanks. See Assuring Graduate Capabilities
Definition: Critical thinking is a habit of mind characterized by the comprehensive exploration of issues, ideas, artifacts, and events before accepting or formulating an opinion or conclusion.
VU Grad Cap Definition: Locate, critically evaluate, manage and use written, numerical and electronic information including the ability to think critically about the need for, and the status of, information including
numerical/statistical and electronic information, and to apply this information appropriately.
Specific variables relating to this Graduate Capability include:
•
Range of techniques and sources required to be used.
•
Structure and clarity of material.
•
Complexity of content and argument of material involved.
•
Complexity of purpose for which information is to be used.
•
Student’s existing knowledge of field of study, to enable evaluation of information sources.
Capability levels
Criteria
Competent
Novice
Beginner
Graduates of this course can
Students in the middle stages can
Students in the early stages can
Explanation of
problem/issue(s)
Students can critically analyse and explain the nature of the
business cycle as it impacts demand for and supply of
hospitality facilities in a market.
Students can investigate and analyse principles and practices in the
accommodation industry. They will investigate the accommodation
guest cycle in light of key factors such as cost structures, performance
metrics and benchmarks.
Students can research and explain the social aspects of
the hospitality industry including the relations and
transactions between people. They will begin to
understand the role and importance of their own skills
and characteristics in the industry.
Evidence
Selecting and using
information to
investigate a point of
view or conclusion
Students can research a wide range of sources, of varying
degrees of importance, in order to locate an appropriate site,
and suggest the most suitable hospitality development for that
site.
Students can use information provided to select and use relevant
components from the accommodation guest cycle in order to identify
areas of improvement for management of an accommodation
property.
Students can interpret and reflect upon their formal
psychological type and critical thinking skills reports, in
order to better plan their own careers in the hospitality
industry.
Influence of context
and assumptions
Students can find, critically evaluate, assemble and analyse
data on supply and demand aspects of the hospitality industry
with a view to producing a professional market demand and
financial feasibility report.
Students can evaluate the metrics of the guest cycle and their
Students can question their own self-awareness and
contribution to the operational efficiency, market position and financial self-image in light of their psychological type and critical
performance of accommodation properties. They will undertake this
thinking skills reports.
evaluation, whilst acknowledging market dynamics and corporate
strategy.
Student's position
(perspective,
thesis/hypothesis)
Students can make recommendations for a hospitality
development project based upon their interpretation of the
relevant data and in light of their experiences and
understanding of the industry.
Students can understand and explain the inherent conflict between
room occupancy and average rates, and the relationship of this
conflict with a business’s strategic position in the market.
Students can understand the nature and characteristics
of the hospitality industry and its demands on employees
in relationship to their own skills and characteristics.
Conclusions and
related outcomes
(implications and
consequences)
Students can logically justify their recommendations to a panel
of industry professionals, who will critique the validity of their
recommendations.
Students can adopt a management strategy that reflects and
reinforces the successful outcome of the market position of the
accommodation property.
Students can begin to prepare a personalised career
plan / strategy based on their understanding of the
industry, their psychological type and their own self
awareness.
1
106759864
Victoria University: Fiona Henderson, Leoni Russell, Penny Jose, Paul A Whitelaw
2
106759864
Victoria University: Fiona Henderson, Leoni Russell, Penny Jose, Paul A Whitelaw
VU Exemplars
VU Grad Caps matrix Find, critically evaluate, synthesise and generate ideas
definition
through the application of complex information on a
broad range of topics, for a range of purposes (15)
Find, organise, critically evaluate and synthesise information on a Find, organise, evaluate and synthesise information
broad range of topics (I4)
on a broad range of topics for defined purposes (I3)
Unit of study
BHO3501 Hospitality Facilities Planning and Development BHO2282 Accommodation Management
BHO1110 Introduction to Hospitality
Aim
The purpose of the unit of study is to introduce students to the
process of planning, developing and evaluating hospitality
facilities via systematic market demand analysis and
feasibility study.
The purpose of the unit of study is for students to acquire a functional
understanding of the planning, management and operational
requirements of the accommodation industry, including the principles
and practices of the guest cycle.
The purpose of the unit of study is to introduce students
to the depth and scope of hospitality as a social concept,
with an emphasis on developing an understanding the
forces that shape the industry and with reference to their
own skills and characteristics.
Unit of Study
assessment
exemplars
Feasibility study and presentation (Assessments 1, 3 and 4)
for major assignment and marking guide
Accommodation Management Report and marking rubric
Personalised career plan (Major essay) and marking
rubric
Unit of Study
assessment detail
Assessment 1 – Initial data searching for a proper site
(15%)
Accommodation Management Report (30%)
Personalised career plan (Major Essay) (30%)
Word limit: 2,000 words
Word limit: 1000 words (+- 10%)
Word limit: 500 words
You are the manager of an accommodation property.
Hospitality developers need a feasible site before
1. Identify and describe the property.
commencing the development process. Information about
sites can be obtained from a wide range of sources including:
2. Identify the key elements of the guest cycle, including the
local and international media, investment proposals,
performance metrics and benchmarks that you would use to
government reports, even TV programs and movies as well as
analyse the performance of the property.
more obvious places such as real estate websites. Your
3. Explain how each of these elements contributes to the
assignment is to identify “an excellent site and the most
property’s performance in terms of operating efficiency,
appropriate hospitality development for that site”. You are to
market position and financial performance.
provide sufficient prima facie evidence (preliminary findings)
to suggest that the site could sustain the proposed
This task corresponds to learning outcomes* 1, 2 and 3 (see below)
development. A full report is not required at this stage.
and graduate capability Using Information (VU level 4). The
assignment aims to help you develop analytical skills to summarise
Assessment 3 – Feasibility study report (25%)
and evaluate information, using a practical industry example. This
Word limit: 2,000 words
assignment is to be completed with a partner from your tutorial group.
This assessment aims to help students develop the analytical
skills required to evaluate the market and financial feasibility
of a proposed development project. Students are required to
conduct a market and financial feasibility study and produce a
report including recommendations based on the site and
proposed hospitality development identified in Assessment 1.
You are required to work in group of 2 to 3. Assume that you
are a group of senior consultants representing an international
property development firm. An investment company would like
to conduct a study to evaluate the market feasibility of
establishing a brand new hospitality development at a location
3
106759864
The written assignment requires you to prepare a
personal learning contract and career development plan.
By Week 3 you will receive a set of personalised,
confidential reports about yourself (your psychological
type, learning style and critical thinking skills). Also,
during the course of this unit of study you will receive
extensive information about the nature and
characteristics of the hospitality industry and the skills
and characteristics that help improve your chances of
success in the industry.
Your task is to use this information to prepare your own,
highly personalised learning plan and career strategy.
This is to be submitted in two stages: a preliminary, 250
word synopsis in week 6 (10% with feedback due in
week 6), a final version in week 9 (20% with feedback
Written assessment must be fully referenced, including the textbook due in week 11).
and eight (8) other academic and industry related references, and
using in-text as well as bibliographic referencing. Submit two copies of The assessment criteria will focus exclusively on your
the assignment; one loaded via the Assignment Turnitin link and the analysis of both your results and the hospitality industry
and the synthesis of your learning contract and career
other printed and handed to the lecturer in the Week 11 lecture.
plan as well as the format and quality of your writing,
*Learning outcomes
especially: structure, spelling, syntax, grammar and
On successful completion of this unit of study, students should expression.
demonstrate their understanding of the accommodation industry by
Final version sample structure:
being able to:
1.
Title Page
Victoria University: Fiona Henderson, Leoni Russell, Penny Jose, Paul A Whitelaw
of your choice. Such development can be a 5 star hotel,
remote or integrated or eco-resort resort, hostel for
backpacker, an entertainment site including accommodation
and service apartment, and can be located anywhere in the
world. More details will be discussed in class and further
assignment detail and a marking guide can be found on
Blackboard.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Assessment 4 – Group presentation (20%)
Additional information
The final component of the project requires each group to
produce a one page summary report of their feasibility study,
known in the industry as an elevator report, and make a 15
minute presentation based on the feasibility study to a panel
of industry experts, who will critique the validity of your
recommendations. The aim is to present the panel a
convincing hospitality development proposal that would
appeal to potential investors. The elevator report should be
submitted immediately before your presentation for the panel.
It should be only 1 page and should capture the key
information of the property for the potential investors and
more importantly, why the investors should invest in your
project.
BHO2282 Assignment 1 Marking Rubric.docx
5.
investigate the management environment;
use the principles and practices of the guest cycle;
examine and explain operating cost structures;
analyse and investigate performance metrics and benchmarks;
and
use stochastic models and use simple heuristics to forecast
demand and pricing.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Executive Summary (not necessary for stages 1
and 2)
Table of Contents (not necessary for stage 1)
Introduction
Part A: Career Plan
Part B: Learning Contract
Part C: Synthesising both Parts
Conclusion
All stages of the assignment must be submitted in
electronic format using the unit website assignment
submission tool. Before submission, you are required to
use the anti-plagiarism software Turnitin and provide the
report together with the assignment.
Additional information
BHO1110 Personality type report excerpt.docx
BHO1110 Assignment guidelines & marking rubric.doc
BHO1110 Essay draft sample 1.pdf
BHO1110 Essay draft sample 2.pdf
BHO1110 Essay draft sample 3.pdf
Additional information
BHO3501 Assignment and Marking Guide.doc
4
106759864
Victoria University: Fiona Henderson, Leoni Russell, Penny Jose, Paul A Whitelaw