Unit rationale, description and aim

This unit will introduce students to Alpine environment and its ecology. It will examine alpine conservation issues and their implications for the outdoor leader and educator. The unit will investigate a variety of programs that use the alpine environment, their outcomes and impacts. Students will have the opportunity to develop foundational alpine pursuit skills in a variety of settings. An examination of personal behaviour styles and leadership skills will be explored.

2025 10

Campus offering

No unit offerings are currently available for this unit

Prerequisites

EXSC116 Journeying in the Natural World

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.

Explain environmental and management issues that d...

Learning Outcome 01

Explain environmental and management issues that directly affect alpine ecology.

Critique alpine conservation issues currently faci...

Learning Outcome 02

Critique alpine conservation issues currently facing the Australian Alps.

Implement outdoor program models that engage with ...

Learning Outcome 03

Implement outdoor program models that engage with the alpine environment.

Reflect upon their personal behaviour styles and i...

Learning Outcome 04

Reflect upon their personal behaviour styles and its relationship to leadership skills.

Demonstrate organisational and practical skills in...

Learning Outcome 05

Demonstrate organisational and practical skills in alpine outdoor pursuits and their application in the context of a journey.

Demonstrate an understanding or risk, hazard ident...

Learning Outcome 06

Demonstrate an understanding or risk, hazard identification and management of or extreme weather environments.

Content

  • Alpine environments, hazards and management 
  • Alpine ecology and alpine conservation Issues 
  • Personal behaviour styles and leadership skills development 
  • Alpine pursuits models and their applications 
  • Foundation skill competencies in alpine outdoor pursuits 

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.  Such procedures may include, but are not limited to: essays, reports, tests, student presentations and field work. 

Overview of assessments

Assessment 1 – Fieldwork: Alpine program developm...

Assessment 1 – Fieldwork: Alpine program development and implementation/Logbook

Weighting

15%

Learning Outcomes LO3, LO4, LO5, LO6

Assessment 2 - Alpine Conservation

Assessment 2 - Alpine Conservation

Weighting

35%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2

Assessment 3 - Test

Assessment 3 - Test

Weighting

35%

Learning Outcomes LO5, LO6

Assessment 4 - Journal

Assessment 4 - Journal

Weighting

15%

Learning Outcomes LO4

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

Teaching and learning strategies may include resources sessions, tutorials, lectures, field work, and reflective/critical thinking activities, which will be delivered in a 2 hour lecture and a 1 hour tutorial as well as field work activities. Teaching and learning strategies will reflect respect for the individual as an independent learner. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group activities.  

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Brymer, E., Gray, T.L., Cotton, W. & Carpenter, C. (2010). Profiling outdoor leadership, Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 2(1),93-108. 

 

Goffee, R., Jones, G. (2006). The route of authentic leadership. Training Journal, Nov, 31-34 

 

Godde, P., Martin, F., Price. Friedrich, M., & Zimmerman. (2000)Tourism and Development in Mountain Regions. CABI. 

 

Huber, M., Harald, K., Bugmann, M., & Reasoner, M. (2005). Global Change and Mountain Regions: an overview of current knowledge. Springer 

 

Luckner, J. L., Nadler, R. S., (1997). Processing the Experience. Iowa: Kendall/Hunt  

Publishing Company. 

 

Morgan, J. (1998) An Annotated Bibliography of Research in the Victorian High Country. Dept . Conservation , Forests and Lands, Victoria. 

 

Schumann, S.,Paisley, K., Sibthorp, J., & Gookin, J. (2009). Instructor influences on student learning at NOLS. Journal of Outdoor Recreation, Education, and Leadership, 1(1) 15-37. 

 

Smith, H. (2011) Extraordinary outdoor leaders: an Australian case study. PHD thesis, University of Wollongong. 

 

Stapleton, I. (1988). Something Small: The Story of Mittagundi. Omeo: Mittagundi Outdoor Education Centre. 

 

Stav (1997).  A Handbook of Cross-Country Skiing in Victoria. Victoria. Trundel, I., (1990).  The Australian Nordic Ski Instructor Manual.  Qld 

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