Course Title: Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2015
Course Code: EASC5040C
Course Title: Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4223 - Certificate IV in Business Administration
Course Contact : Sylvia Baroutis
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5469
Course Contact Email:sylvia.baroutis@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Course teacher:
Seymour Jacobson
Email: seymour.jacobson@rmit.edu.au
Telephone: +61 3 9925-1563
Student consultation times available: Tuesdays 8.30 - 9.30 am
Nominal Hours: 40
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to effectively analyse the workplace in relation to environmentally sustainable work practices and to implement improvements and monitor their effectiveness. This unit requires the ability to access industry information, applicable legislative and occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines. While no licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply holistically to this unit at the time of publication, relevant national, state and territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice impact upon this unit.
This unit applies to those with responsibility for a specific area of work or who lead a work group or team. It addresses the knowledge, processes and techniques necessary to implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices, including the development of processes and tools, such as:
- identifying areas for improvement
- developing plans to make improvements
- implementing and monitoring improvements in environmental performance
A person who demonstrates competence in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to implement and monitor integrated environmental and resource efficiency management policies and procedures within an organisation. Evidence must be strictly relevant to the particular workplace role.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBSUS301A Implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices |
Element: |
1. Investigate current practices in relation to resource usage |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1.Identify environmental regulations applying to the enterprise |
Element: |
2. Set targets for improvements |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1.Seek input from stakeholders, key personnel and specialists |
Element: |
3. Implement performance improvement strategies |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1.Source and use appropriate techniques and tools to assist in achieving efficiency targets |
Element: |
4. Monitor performance |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1.Use and/or develop evaluation and monitoring, tools and technology |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative online activities. The learning activities you will complete each week from Weeks 2 to 7 will form the basis of your assessable work for Task 1 - Resource Portfolio and submitted in an online private journal in Blackboard (accessed via myRMIT Studies) and will assist you in developing the required knowledge and skills and gathering research needed to complete Task 2 - Campaign Proposal. The remaining formative learning activities for the semester will be discussed with your peers on a weekly basis and will also contribute to supporting your work in Task 2.
IMPORTANT: Please note the dates when this course is delivered online in your diary from the Teaching Schedule.
We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.
Teaching Schedule
| The Teaching Schedule for this course is as follows:
Course Delivery: | |||
| Week |
Week Commencing | Topics |
Assessment due dates and feedback |
| 1 | 9 Feb Face-to-face |
Introduction to the course including: • Course requirements • Course support documents • Course Blackboard access • Accuracy of enrolment • Assessment requirements/Cover Sheets • Reminder re Plagiarism • Reminder re Appeals • Extensions/Resubmissions • Feedback in this course • Reminder re submission requirements • Getting help |
Total assessment tasks for this unit: Task 1 – Portfolio – Resource Portfolio (must be submitted weekly as indicated) |
| 2 | 16 Feb Face-to-face |
Developing a workplace sustainability policy and strategies | Task 1 – Resource Portfolio (learning activity Week 2) feedback the week after submission |
| 3 | 23 Feb Face-to-face |
Define the scope of the policy | Task 1 – Resource Portfolio (learning activity Week 3) feedback the week after submission |
| 4 | 2 Mar Online |
Gather information | Task 1 – Resource Portfolio (learning activity Week 4) feedback the week after submission |
| 5 | 9 Mar Online (Monday Labour Day Public Holiday) |
Analysing sustainability in the workplace | Task 1 – Resource Portfolio (learning activity Week 5) feedback the week after submission |
| 6 | 16 Mar Online |
Greater impact: the social enterprise | Task 1 – Resource Portfolio (learning activity Week 6) feedback the week after submission |
| 7 | 23 Mar Face-to-face |
Set goals and targets |
Task 1 – Research Table (finished table submitted for Week 7 to Blackboard drop box) Note: All Resource Portfolio tasks must be complete by this week including any resubmissions to the online journal where applicable. |
| 8 | 30 Mar Online |
Risk analysis for climate change | Work on Task 2 should have commenced by this week. |
| Mid semester break 2 – 8 Apr classes resume Thursday 9 Apr 2015 | |||
| 9 | 13 Apr Online |
Consult stakeholders | Formative learning activity – submit to the class discussion board |
| 10 | 20 Apr Face-to-face |
Develop and recommend strategy options | Feedback provided on Resource Portfolio overall including the Research Table |
| 11 | 27 Apr Online |
Developing and implementing sustainability programs | Formative learning activity – submit to the class discussion board |
| 12 | 4 May Online |
Eco-innovations (review of case studies) | Formative learning activity – submit to the class discussion board |
| 13 | 11 May Online |
Lifecycle analysis | Formative learning activity – submit to the class discussion board |
| 14 | 18 May Online |
Monitor and communicate results | Formative learning activity – submit to the class discussion board |
| 15 | 25 May Online |
Final assessment collation and submission | Task 2 – Campaign Proposal |
| 16 | 1 Jun Online |
Course review | Assessment feedback commences (2 weeks) and resubmissions/Special Consideration where applicable. |
| 17 | 8 Jun | Semester 1 assessment period | Assessment feedback commences (2 weeks) and resubmissions/Special Consideration where applicable. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
This text has been digitised and available to read/download free from Blackboard using student login credentials as a PDF. |
References
Other Resources
Students are not expected to purchase any textbooks as all required reading has been digitised for ease of access and will be available on the Blackboard.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including technical requirements documentation, homework, assignments, group and/or individual projects, in class exercises, written and practical assessments, problem solving exercises, presentations, direct observation of actual and simulated work practice, presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files, review of products produced through work-based or course activities.
Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met. Students will be provided with feedback throughout the course to check their progress.
Assessment Tasks
Overview
There are two tasks that need to be completed successfully to be deemed competent in this course (Task 1 – Resource Portfolio and Task 2 – Campaign Proposal). The course materials provided via the Blackboard come from a range of current sources to support students to develop the knowledge, processes and techniques required to implement and monitor environmentally sustainable work practices. To build and start applying the knowledge and skills, students will complete weekly learning activities as part of a portfolio of evidence, the sustainable research information gathered and analysed will be compiled in the form of a research table.
It is essential for students to complete all learning activities and research table in the portfolio in order to successfully complete the Campaign Proposal specific to their selected organisation (their workplace, friend/relative’s organisation or an identified needs area within RMIT University. Students must discuss their selected workplace and proposal angle with the teacher via the online Journal in Blackboard by the end of Week 5.
Critical aspects of assessment
Evidence of the following is essential:
- knowledge of relevant compliance requirements within work area
- developing plans to make improvements
- planning and organising work group activities in relation to measuring current use and devising strategies to improve usage
- monitoring resource use and improvements for environmental performance relative to work area and supervision
- ensuring appropriate action is taken within work area in relation to environmental/sustainability compliance and potential hazards
- implementing new approaches to work area in an effort to resolve and improve environmental and resource efficiency issues and reporting as required.
Assessment Tasks
Task 1 – Resource Portfolio (Due Date: End of Week 7)
There are two parts to this task – a resource portfolio and research information table. Throughout the semester students will complete individual learning activities set on a weekly basis from their reading of the prescribed text (Cole, Chapter 23) and other materials and submit responses via their private online Journal in Blackboard. This will serve as the main platform where students can discuss and analyse course related materials in the context of the formative weekly learning activities with the teacher.
Students will compile their sustainability research findings progressively in a table (template provided in Blackboard) as each of the learning activities up to Week 7 relate to the following areas:
- Benchmarks
- Green Providers
- Policy Development
- Recyclers
- Social Enterprises
Submit Week 7 to Blackboard Assessment drop box
This research table will provide the students with a body of sustainability research information they have gathered and analysed and serve as a valuable resource to complete Task 2 – Campaign Proposal (Implement a Workplace ‘Switch-off’ Campaign).
Task 2 – Campaign Proposal (Due Date: End of Week 15)
In 2014 the CitySwitch Toolkit Running a Workplace ‘Switch-Off’ Campaign was published by the Commonwealth of Australia, receiving funding from the Department of Industry as part of the Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program. This toolkit will be provided to students as a basis for them to write a proposal for a Workplace ‘Switch-Off’ Campaign, using the following headings word processed as a memo to the relevant stakeholder:
Students are to download the toolkit from: http://www.cityswitch.net.au/Portals/0/CitySwitch%20Toolkits/RunningSwitchOffCampaign_v2d.pdf also to be made available under the Assessments tab in Blackboard.
About the toolkit
“Switch-off campaigns are a simple, low-cost approach to reducing energy consumption across a business. CitySwitch has developed this toolkit to provide a simple set of steps to an effective campaign to get everyone to switch off equipment and appliances in the office when not in use. They key steps are:
Measure: taking a methodical approach to find out how much energy any piece of equipment left on at night and weekends consumes, and how much greenhouse gas that will produce.
Identify Actions: The audit allows you to identify precisely what savings could be achieved by the behaviour you are targeting, e.g. ‘switch off lights whenever not in use’, ‘switch off monitor at night’, or ‘turn off printer at the wall’.
Communicate: The workplace can have a range of channels for communicating what to do, the tone of the messages, workplace culture, and what the impact of ‘switching off’ can be.
Feedback and Reward: Feedback refers to simply providing the data on what difference ‘switch off’ actions have made. Rewards can be simple – like chocolates – to more elaborate vouchers and experiences when staff are working in teams or against time-based targets.”
Submit Week 15 to Blackboard Assessment drop box
Students must upload their word processed Campaign Proposal memo to the Task 2 – Campaign Proposal drop box on Blackboard either on or before Friday 29 May 2015 Week 15.
Submission Requirements
You should:
- Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date.
- Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
- When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of each assessment task is available on blackboard.
- Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10 unless instructed otherwise in the Assessment Record and Cover Sheet instructions.
Late Submission Procedures
You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates even when work is submitted progressively in the form of a weekly journal/learning activities.
If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.
More Information: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf
Resubmissions (VET Programs):
If you are found to be unsuccessful in a Course Assessment Task you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is “CAG”.
If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.
Adjustments to Assessment
In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website: More Information: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31
Marking Guide (Competency):
You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.
You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.
Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:
Final Grades table:
CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Assessment Matrix
Course Overview: Access Course Overview