Course Title: Conduct field research into natural and cultural resources
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2013
Course Code: ENVI5076C
Course Title: Conduct field research into natural and cultural resources
School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5305 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management
Course Contact: Namrita Kaul
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4309
Course Contact Email: namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
The teacher for this Course is Bruce Partland
Contact details:
Phone: 99258323
e-mail: bruce.partland@rmit.edu.au
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
There are none
Course Description
This unit covers the process of conducting field research into natural resource and cultural areas for resource management and related purposes and defines the standard required to: use a range of electronic and manual recording systems to support research; identify stakeholders including current tenure, Indigenous history and community interest; review existing knowledge; develop research objectives, staff, resources and design; conduct field investigations to investigate impacts on fauna, flora and natural resources of the site; report on the field investigation.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
AHCILM501A 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 the field investigation |
Performance Criteria: |
6.1. Stakeholders are consulted on draft findings. |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
1. Classroom-based lectures (see Timetable)
2. Self-directed research in computer labs during class time.
3. Short Field trips during class time
4. A number of 1 day field trips (see Timetable)
5. A compulsory 5 day field trip to conduct research. (This will take place from Monday 6th May - Friday 10th May. You should plan well in advance to attend this Field Trip. It will not be possible to complete the requirements of this Course if you are unable to attend).
Teaching Schedule
Course: HUSO5098C: Conduct field research into natural & cultural resources
Week1
11/2 Introduction to the Training Package
Overview: Aboriginal history with emphasis on Victoria
What are ‘natural’ and ‘cultural resources’? What is a “sacred site”?
Where are you from? (Aboriginal place names; Clan & Language groups; Cultural sites)
13/2 Mini assessment 1 (Student presentations): Where I’m from.
Week2
18/2 Review Existing Knowledge (1)
What is cultural heritage?
ICOMOS / Burra Charter / Indigenous Heritage; Statements of significance
20/2 Review Existing knowledge (2)
Cultural heritage in the vicinity of RMIT (European and Aboriginal)
Wk 3
25/2 F/T1 Field Trip 1: (am) Walkin’ Birrarung (Contemporary interpretation of a ‘cultural landscape’
Mini Assessment 2: (Blackboard Quiz) Components of Cultural Heritage & it’s application
27/2
Koori plants and their uses (Guest speaker?)
Week 4
4/3 Developing a research protocol (2): Identifying stakeholders
Making 10 canoes (DVD)
Student Exercise: Develop a research protocol
6/3 Mini Assessment 3 due: Research protocol
(Bruce away)
Week 5
11/3 LABOUR DAY
13/3 Conducting Field investigations: Preliminary research (Wurundjeri)
First Australians DVD
Week 6 (18/3)
F/T2 Field Trip 2 Conducting Field Investigations (1) Wurundjeri: Sites Tour (ALL DAY)??.
20/3 Cultural resources (1): Tangible and Intangible cultural resources (AAV Fact Sheets)
Stone tools / weapons
Housing and shelter
Week 7
25/3 Mini Assessment 4 (In class exercise): Cultural Resources (2): Cultural resources Toolbox-Student exercises (Stone Tools; Coastal and Freshwater middens, Historic places etc )
27/3 Sources of knowledge (1) Visit to State Library (Readings, oral histories, old photos, Diaries, Reports, Historic artwork, manuscripts, settlement of Melbourne.etc.
Week 8
1/4 EASTER BREAK
3/4 EASTER BREAK
Week 9 8/4
F/T3 Field Trip 3:Conducting Field Investigations (2)- Bundoora Site visit: Cultural site recognition, recording and conservation (Scarred Trees)
10/4 Koorie Heritage Trust: Collections, Purpose, research facilities.
(Bruce away?)
Week 10 15/4
Legislation (1): The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2008 (AAV Guest speaker)
Mini Assessment 5 ((Due Friday)Student research exercise): RAP’s, Native Title, NT Rights and interests
17/4
19/4 Legislation (2) Native Title: The Eddie Mabo story and beyond..
Mini Assessment 5 (due Friday)
Week 11
22/4 Research existing knowledge 1. (Gunditjmara):
EVC’s; Interactive Biodiversity maps; Transient resources: Plants and animal resources
Human imposed patterns on the landscape; Housing; History; Vegetation patterns; Geology; Clan estates; Resource availability; etc
Test preview
24/4 Research existing knowledge 2 (Gunditjmara)
Some History: Critchett; Pascoe; GA Robinson and others.
Geology of the Western Plains
Week 12
29/4 Major Assessment 1: TEST!!
1/5 Research existing Knowledge 3. (Gunditjmara):
Relationships between Geology and Flora / Fauna;
Final preparations for Heywood field trip
Week 13
F/T 4 6/5-10/5 Heywood Field Trip (5 days)
Week 14
13/5 Review knowledge: SW Victoria- a cultural landscape?
Resources: availability, seasonality, sustainability.
15/5 Research existing knowledge:
Research skills (RMIT Library seminar)
Week 15
20/5 Fire as a cultural tool
Mini Assessment 6 : (In class exercise)
23/5 Fire behaviour in the Australian environment
Guest speaker (TBA)
Week 16
27/5 Seminar: An alternative perspective on history
Guest speaker (TBA)
29/5 Research existing knowledge:
Koorie Heritage Trust (Literature Review)
Week 17
3/6 Self-guided research
Working on Assignments
5/6 Self guided research –
Week 18
10/6 QUEENS BIRTHDAY HOLIDAY
12/6 Assessment 3: Major Report due - A cultural landscape: Lifestyles and land-use patterns in response to resource availability in the western plains of SW Victoria.
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
A number of References will be introduced during the Semester. |
Other Resources
’The First Australians’ DVD set will give you an excellent background to Aboriginal history and issues.
’The Making of 10 canoes’ (Rolf de Heer) provides a fascinating study in the necessary protocols to be followed when researching or otherwise working with Indigenous communities.
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course may include reports, individual and group project work, tests and assignments
Assessment Tasks
ASSESSMENT SUMMARY:
Ungraded (Mini) Assessments (CA/NYC):
1 (13 Feb) Where I’m from (Class presentation)
2 (25 Feb) Cultural heritage & its application (In class Blackboard quiz)
3 (6 March) Develop a Research protocol (Writeup of in-class workshop)
4 (25 March) Cultural Resource Toolbox (In-class Toolbox exercise)
5 (19 April) Heritage & land Title legislation (In-class & Internet research quiz)
6 (20 May) Fire as a cultural tool (In-class research quiz)
NB. The above mini-assessments, although ungraded, must be completed satisfactorily in order to be able to complete the Course. Most of them will be completed during class time. You will be given precise instructions on how to complete these exercises and Quizzes.Taken together they contribute to the background knowledge required to successfully complete the requirements of this Course.
Graded Assessments: (Each worth 50% of final mark)
29 April : Research Plan
12 June: Major Report based on Heywood Field Trip
NB Details of these Assessments will be given during the first class.
Assessment Matrix
Course Overview: Access Course Overview