SLE101 - Environmental Techniques and Monitoring

Unit details

Year:

2024 unit information

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne)
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: Mark Warne
Prerequisite:

Nil

Corequisite:

SLE010

Incompatible with:

SQB122 and SQE131

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

This will include educator guided online learning activities within the unit site.

Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment:

2 x 1 hour online lectures per week, 2 x 3 hour practical experience (workshop) per trimester, 2 x 3 hour practical experience (laboratory) per trimester, 6 x 3 hour practical experience (field trip) per trimester, 1 x 3 hour practical experience (computer practical) per trimester

Content

This unit emphasises skills for the collection of environmental data in the field. Field skills developed will include animal and/or plant identification and the use of keys, field survey and monitoring methods, soil description techniques, and the environmental assessment of aquatic ecosystems and groundwater systems. Methods for the analysis of environmental data, interpretation and presentation will also be covered. The application of global positioning systems (GPS), geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing to the environmental sciences will also be discussed.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Collect ecological data in the field and work as part of a team to generate requisite field data suitable for ecological analysis.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO7: Teamwork

ULO2

Analyse, interpret and present these data using appropriate techniques and software.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO2: Communication
GLO3: Digital literacy
GLO4: Critical thinking
GLO5: Problem solving
GLO6: Self-management

ULO3

Describe and operate basic features of GIS software and global positioning (GPS) equipment.

GLO3: Digital literacy

ULO4

Interpret digital and non-digital remotely-sensed data.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities
GLO3: Digital literacy

ULO5

Read and interpret at a basic level topographic, soil, regolith, groundwater elevation and groundwater salinity maps.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

ULO6

Describe groundwater sampling and testing techniques and their application to relevant environmental problems.

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week

Assessment 1
Practical reports 

Answers and requested outputs related to practical exercises

50%
(3 x 10%, 1 x 20%)

Week 3, 5, 9 and 10

Assessment 2
Field report (Group)

Team (group) written report 20% Week 11
End-of-Unit Assessment Timed online test 30% End-of-Unit Assessment period

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: SLE101 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Use the Fee estimator to see course and unit fees applicable to your course and type of place.

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.