HUMA414 - Honours Study Tour

Year

Credit points

Campus offering

Prerequisites

Nil

Incompatible

HUMA413 Honours International Study Unit

Unit rationale, description and aim

Scholars in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences need to be able to respond to diverse and dynamic socio-cultural environments, populations and issues and apply their learning to problem-solving in real-world contexts. Learning in the field extends students’ learning opportunities beyond the classroom and enables students to develop their studies in advanced theory, methodology or scholarship in a variety of new, collaborative and stimulating environments. Students will participate in a pre-departure seminar, an intensive overseas or domestic study tour, and a post-tour debrief and reflection workshop. The unit is designed to enable students to achieve the Course Learning Outcomes relating to advanced knowledge of theories, concepts and methodologies in Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences while completing a study tour internationally or within Australia. The aim of this unit is to extend theoretical and conceptual learning in the discipline by connecting students with communities and contexts where they can apply analysis, reflection and evidence-based argument to solving real-world problems in the field.

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

On successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

LO1 - Articulate advanced theories, concepts and scholarly positions relevant to the area of study (GA4, GA5, GA8)

LO2 - Critically analyse and evaluate complex debates and ideas in the field, by generating and communicating sustained reflections and arguments (GA4, GA5, GA6, GA8)

LO3 - Independently and/or collaboratively apply advanced discipline-specific cognitive, technical and communication skills to transform information and complete a range of activities (GA5, GA7, GA9, GA10)

Graduate attributes

GA4 - think critically and reflectively 

GA5 - demonstrate values, knowledge, skills and attitudes appropriate to the discipline and/or profession 

GA6 - solve problems in a variety of settings taking local and international perspectives into account

GA7 - work both autonomously and collaboratively 

GA8 - locate, organise, analyse, synthesise and evaluate information 

GA9 - demonstrate effective communication in oral and written English language and visual media 

GA10 - utilise information and communication and other relevant technologies effectively.

Content

Topics will include:

• Contextual information about the study tour location(s)
• Conceptual study topics related to the study tour
• Fieldwork activities exploring topic areas relevant to the discipline.

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This unit is delivered in intensive study mode as a domestic or overseas study tour comprising of a pre-departure workshop(s), an intensive field trip, and a post-field trip school debrief session. Studies of field-based learning demonstrate that leaving the classroom and learning through first-hand experience makes learning more interesting, enjoyable and relevant to students. This has been found to lead to greater student engagement, deeper learning and increased effectiveness in achieving Learning Outcomes. Field-based learning has also been shown to create a collective mentality among participants which enhances students’ understanding of the importance of cooperation and teamwork. End-of-day debriefs and a final debrief session on completion of the study tour allow students to reflect on their learning experiences both during and after the completion of the tour. Students are also expected to post short answer reflections on their learning while on the study tour (see assessment task 1 below). Research shows that critical reflection facilitates deeper learning.

Due to the intensive mode of teaching, attendance at pre-departure and study tour classes is compulsory. Students who are unable to attend any learning and teaching activities due to illness and/or personal circumstances beyond their control must inform the LIC immediately. 

This unit has been designed to ensure that the time needed to complete the required volume of learning to the requisite standard is approximately 150 hours in total across the semester. To achieve a passing standard in this unit, students should engage in the full range of learning activities and assessments utilised in this unit, as described in the learning and teaching strategy and the assessment strategy. 

Assessment strategy and rationale

A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit Learning Outcomes and develop Graduate Attributes consistent with University assessment requirements.

The assessment tasks and their weighting for this unit are designed to demonstrate the achievement of each Learning Outcome. In order to pass this unit, students are required to submit and participate in all assessment tasks.

In the first task, students will be required to maintain a study tour online diary that allows them to reflect on their learning during the study tour experience. The diary will then provide an important point of reference for assessment tasks 2 and 3.

The second task is an oral presentation to their fellow students that requires an in-depth analysis, argument and evaluation of at least one disciplinary theme, issue or question which emerged during their fieldwork, taking into consideration the complex debates and ideas in the field. Students will also be required to critically engage with the presentations of their fellow students.

The last task is a reflective essay. Students will prepare a reflective essay, relating their study tour experience to some of the key concepts, debates and methods in their field.

Overview of assessments

Representative texts and references

Texts and references appropriate to the topics will be identified in connection with each study tour.