01. Identify legal, cultural, biological and other considerations that constrain research activity in an environment and undertake appropriate steps to safeguard the environment.

Activities:

Guest speakers, online and other resources will inform students of various aspects of significance relating to national parks and other high conservation value environments. Students will complete an application for permission to undertake research in a designated National Park, from amongst several provided.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)

Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)

02. Distinguish elements of effective teamwork and group formation and apply these principles to perform collaboratively in a team to collect and analyse field data then critically evaluate their own and whole group behaviour.

Activities:

Complete online exercises pre- trip relating to theory of group and team work including self analysis and introduction of self to group. Facilitated group work exercises will be conducted in the early part of the trip to assist in group formation and to demonstrate aspects of group theory. Work as a member of small team during field work projects and participate in group assessment activities. Complete a personal reflection of the team work project at three points during the field trip - completed reflection to be submitted.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Teamwork(Teamwork)

Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)

Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)

03. Write a scientific report related to a field based project in accordance with professional and ethical standards.

Activities:

Write a scientific project report according to established standards and guidelines will be marked according to the rubric. Complete Academic integrity module online. Statistical methods support and advice will be provided during the writing up and analysis phases.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)

Inquiry/ Research(Inquiry/ Research)

Quantitative Literacy/ Numeracy(Quantitative Literacy/ Numeracy)

Writing(Writing)

Ethical Awareness(Ethical Awareness)

04. Identify techniques appropriate to particular tasks for six different fieldwork methods then employ and evaluate at least one method.

Activities:

A variety of field techniques will be demonstrated in the field and/or described in the online material. The usefulness and limitations of all of these techniques will be reviewed in practice and through online visual and written resources. Students will employ at least one field technique during fieldwork.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)

Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

05. Evaluate risk and means of risk minimisation to demonstrate safe behaviour in the environment during fieldwork.

Activities:

Guest speakers (park rangers) who describe and discuss risks associated with working in the arid zone. Students participate in team building quiz which is based on real life scenarios and experiences of risk. Debrief includes team and group working aspects as well as risk management issues.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Critical Thinking(Critical Thinking)

Creative Problem-solving(Creative Problem-solving)

06. Demonstrate knowledge of the extent of arid zone environments in Australia and identify abiotic and biotic characteristics of these habitats.

Activities:

As well as completing their research projects, students will (while in the field) gather a variety of information and artifacts (e.g. photos, specimen material under permit) field trip which will be used to prepare a short group report. This information and these artifacts will be the property of DEME and be available as an ongoing field trip resource for this subject.

Related graduate capabilities and elements:

Discipline-specific GCs(Discipline-specific GCs)