Course Title: Conduct field research into natural and cultural resources
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2011
Course Code: HUSO5098C
Course Title: Conduct field research into natural and cultural resources
School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5161 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management
Course Contact: Bruce Partland
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 99258323
Course Contact Email: bruce.partland@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Nominal Hours: 200
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
This Course is offered in the second year of the 2 year Diploma in Conservation & Land Management.
Successful completion of the Field Research element of this Course will require an awareness of past and contemporary Aboriginal issues, and a high degree of sensitivity in the planning, undertaking and reporting of the field research undertaken.
As such, attendance at all the initial Cultural Awareness activities listed in the Timetable, is ESSENTIAL. Non attendance will disqualify you from attending the Field Research activity and from any chance of successfully completing this Course.
Course Description
This competency standard covers the process of conducting field research into natural and cultural resources for resource management and related purposes. This work is often done prior to, or in conjunction with the development of a resource management plan. It requires the ability to review existing knowledge, identify stakeholders, develop a research approach, conduct field investigations, develop process for involving decision-makers and report on the field investigation. Conducting field research into natural and cultural resources requires knowledge of relevant legislation, charters, Codes of Practice relating to natural and cultural resource areas, ecology, geological and biological diversity, population dynamics and control approaches, accepted scientific processes and historical research processes, and links between Indigenous heritage and natural resources.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
RTD5502A Conduct field research into natural and cultural resources |
Element: |
1. Review existing knowledge |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Existing information gathered through investigation and enterprise recording processes is examined to determine key features. |
Element: |
2. Identify stakeholders |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Stakeholders are identified in conjunction with local communities and groups, and government documentation and interviews. |
Element: |
3. Develop research approach |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Objectives of the field research are determined in conjunction with those commissioning the research according to enterprise procedures. |
Element: |
4. Conduct field investigations |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Consultation and fieldwork undertaken to obtain information required to meet investigation objectives. |
Element: |
5. Develop process for involving decision makers |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Information on stakeholders is used to determine interests held by organisations, groups and individuals, and cultural dimensions. |
Element: |
6. Report on field investigations |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1 Results of investigations are presented in a format that addresses the research objectives according to enterprise guidelines. |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
Learning Activities for this course include:
1. Self-guided analysis and interpretation of selected published texts and audio-visual resources
2. Attendance at Seminars and local field trips aimed at familiarising students with appropriate protocols and methods for undertaking successful field research
3. Face to face classroom guidance
4. A 5 day Field Trip to a remote area to undertake a practical field research exercise
5. Familiarisation with cultural resource management activities and protocols through regular interaction with prescribed online resources eg Tooboxes.
Teaching Schedule
Class times are generally from 9am-1pm every Friday for the duration of the Course.
Exceptions are advertised Field Trips or all-day Seminars which will generally occur fro 9am to 5pm, and the major 5 day Field Trip from 2-6th May.
As attendance at all these activities is essential for achieving competency, students should keep Fridays clear of other activities. As this is the first time this Course has been offered it should be appreciated that some degree of flexibility in the program may be necessary.
A detailed Timetable will be presented at the first class meeting.
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
A comprehensive list of suggested Readings and useful audio-visual resources will be posted in the Blackboard shell for this subject on commencement of the Course.
Each student will be required to present an oral analysis of one (1) of these resources to the class. Students are free to access all these resources at their own leisure.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment activities include:
1. An oral class presentation on an assigned topic;
2. Competent completion of a series of Worksheets associated with local field trips
3. Analysis of Field trip data
4. A major report on the 5 day Field Trip
5. A Research Plan for a hypothetical field research project.
For a Grade to be awarded in this Course competency must be achieved for all the above Assessment items listed above.
Assessment Tasks
The Assessment tasks for this Course are as follows:
1. A short presentation to the class on an assigned Reading (Marks available:10)
2. Completion of 4 Worksheets associated with the advertised local and remote area field trips and / or seminars (Hurdle tasks attracting a CA or NYC rating)
3. Analysis of field trip data as part of Peter Homan’s Course ’Collect & Manage Data’ (Hurdle task attracting a CA or NYC rating)
4. A major report on the remote area field trip, taking the form of a ’Determination of Significance’ (Marks available: 50)
5. A detailed Plan for a Field Research Program to a location of the student’s choice (Marks available: 40)
Assessment Matrix
Other Information
Successful completion of this Course will require a substantial commitment of time and effort on the part of each student. A rough breakdown of the time commitment you may be required to make are as follows:
Face to Face lectures : .....................60hrs
Field Trips and Seminars: ................80hrs
Preparation of major reports.............30hrs
Reading and personal research.... .30 hrs
Course Overview: Access Course Overview