Course coordinator
Dr Annabel Smith
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- The Environment School
In depth knowledge and practical skills required to understand how human activity and/or natural climatic variability has shaped the vegetated landscapes of the planet, particular links to fire and management.
This course will examine how human activity and/or natural climatic variability has shaped the vegetated landscapes of the planet, particular links to fire and management. Themes in the course will include: fire ecology; palaeoecology; the relative role people and natural climatic variability played in ecosystem change and the importance of fire in these alterations; and impacts of future environmental change on vegetated landscapes and fire management. Case studies will be used to illustrate these topics from a variety of Australian and international contexts. The course also includes themes covering the strategy, planning and on the ground execution of prescribed burning and controlling wildfireﾠ, withﾠ practical exercises to gain experience in the ecological and technical aspects related to fire ecology and palaeoecology.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Current enrolment in a bachelor's degree and/or professional experience in the course area.
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
ENVM2512, ENVM2511, ENVM7530 (co-taught).
Jointly taught details
This course is jointly-taught with:
This course is co-taught between ENVM3215 and ENVM7530.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Annabel Smith
Dr Philip Stewart
Dr Jennifer Cooling
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to enable you to gain knowledge in the concepts and currentﾠissues in palaeoecology and fire ecology through an understanding of key processes, methods and techniques in these discliplines. A key link will be made to the importance of these topics in natural resource management and conservation. Case studies drawn from across the planet will be used to illustrate key concepts.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Take account of current debates in palaeoecology through understanding and reflection on the content of lectures, practicals and required readings.
LO2.
Develop skills of research, analysis and argument in the areas of palaeoecology.
LO3.
Describe key concepts in fire ecology, through understanding and reflection on the content of lectures, practicals and required readings.
LO4.
Develop skills of research, analysis and argument in the areas of fire ecology.
LO5.
Describe how key concepts in palaeoecology and fire ecology are crucial for effective natural resource management and conservation.
LO6.
Describe how fire can impact Australian landscapes and key issues that need to be taken into account for planned burns.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Practical/ Demonstration | Practical Exercises | 40% |
26/07/2024 - 4/10/2024 |
| Poster | Fire Management Poster | 30% |
13/09/2024 4:00 pm |
| Examination | Online Exam | 30% |
21/10/2024 - 25/10/2024 |
Assessment details
Practical Exercises
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Practical/ Demonstration
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
26/07/2024 - 4/10/2024
Task description
There will be four practical exercises in this course. Students are expected to submit a completed practical workbook at the completion of each session, or through Blackboard as advised during the session in the relevant week. Students need to pass the practical component of the course to achieve a passing grade.
Submission guidelines
Submitted at the end of each class for grading (in class) or through blackboard (online) by the end of the relevant week (4 pm Friday).
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible. If the deadline cannot be met, students must apply for an extension before the due date.
Fire Management Poster
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Poster
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
13/09/2024 4:00 pm
Task description
Using the information and data that will be provided in class develop a poster that outlines an appropriate fire management plan that will address key conservation and hazard minimisation goals that are relevant for a national park in SE Queensland.
The poster will be graded based on a criteria posted on Blackboard and there will be a course hurdle attached to this assessment item (students must achieve at least 45% for this assessment item to pass the course).
Submission guidelines
Completed assignments must be submitted as an electronic copy in Blackboard.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible. If the deadline cannot be met, students must apply for an extension before the due date.
Online Exam
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 30%
- Due date
21/10/2024 - 25/10/2024
Task description
Students will complete an Online Exam, made available through Blackboard, during week 13. It will cover key aspects of the course based on the lecture material. The exam will be made available for a 48 hour period during week 13 and, once started, you will have two hours in total to complete the exam.
Exam details
| Planning time | no planning time minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | Any calculator permitted |
| Open/closed book | Open Book examination |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Not invigilated |
Submission guidelines
Completed assignments must be submitted through the link accessible on Blackboard. Instructions will be posted well in advance of the date.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
Submission of an Extension of Assessment Due Date should be completed online through your My Requests tab via my.UQ Dashboard before the due date of the assessment item.
Late submission
Late submission is not possible. If the deadline cannot be met, students must apply for an extension before the due date.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 0% Serious deficiencies in satisfying some, or all of the the learning objectives of this course. |
| 2 (Fail) |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 30% Clear deficiencies in satisfying some of the the learning objectives of this course. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 45% Falls short of satisfying most of the requirements of this course. ASSESSMENT HURDLE: refer to 'Other Requirements and Comments' below. |
| 4 (Pass) |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 50% Satisfies the basic learning objectives of the course. Able to assist in problem solving at a basic level. Produces basic essays and posters, and is satisfactory in participation. ASSESSMENT HURDLE: refer to 'Other Requirements and Comments' below. |
| 5 (Credit) |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 65% Demonstrates the ability to apply fundamental concepts and skills of the course. Demonstrates an ability to participate in problem solving in relation to fire management. Produces good essays and posters, and participates in most aspects of the course. ASSESSMENT HURDLE: refer to 'Other Requirements and Comments' below. |
| 6 (Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 75% Demonstrates a proficiency in all the learning objectives for the course. Demonstrated ability to grasp complex problems and assist in developing appropriate solutions in relation to fire management. Produces high quality essays and poster presentations. Participates in all aspects of the course. ASSESSMENT HURDLE: refer to 'Other Requirements and Comments' below. |
| 7 (High Distinction) |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The minimum percentage required for this grade is: 85% Demonstrates a high proficiency in all the learning objectives for the course. Demonstrated ability to identify, investigate and solve complex problems relating to fire management. Produces very high quality essays and excellent poster presentations. Excellent participation in all aspects of the course. ASSESSMENT HURDLE: refer to 'Other Requirements and Comments' below. |
Additional course grading information
To achieve a passing grade in this course students will need to achieve a minimum grade of 15 out 30 (50%) for the practical component of the course and the hurdle for the fire management review poster is 45%, i.e. you need to obtain at least this grade for this assessment item to pass the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Supplementary assessment is available
Courses graded 1-7
Should you fail a course with a grade of 3, you may be eligible for supplementary assessment. Refer to my.UQ for information on supplementary assessment and how to apply.
Supplementary assessment provides an additional opportunity to demonstrate you have achieved all the required learning outcomes for a course.
If you apply and are granted supplementary assessment, the type of supplementary assessment set will consider which learning outcome(s) have not been met.
Supplementary assessment can take any form (such as a written report, oral presentation, examination or other appropriate assessment) and may test specific learning outcomes tailored to the individual student, or all learning outcomes.
To receive a passing grade of 3S4, you must obtain a mark of 50% or more on the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Applications for Extensions
Information on applying for an extension can be found here - my.UQ Applying for an extension
Extension applications must be received by the assessment due date and time.
If you are unable to provide documentation to support your application by the due date and time you must still submit your application on time and attach a Word document outlining why you cannot provide the documentation and upload the documentation to the portal within 24 hours.
Please note: While your extension request is being considered, you should work towards completing and submitting your assessment as soon as possible.
If you have been ill or unable to attend class for more than 4 weeks in a semester, we advise you to carefully consider whether you are capable of successfully completing your courses. You might need to consider applying for removal of course. We strongly recommend you seek advice from the Faculty that administers your program.
Extensions with Student Access Plans (SAP)
For extensions up to 7 days, your SAP is all that is required as documentation to support your application. However, extension requests longer than 7 days (for any one assessment item) will require the submission of additional supporting documentation e.g., a medical certificate. A maximum of two applications may be submitted for any one assessment item, unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated. All extension requests must be received by the assessment due date and time.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
The assessment tasks in this course evaluate students’ abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Students are advised that the use of AI technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Inspera
Inspera Assessment will used in this course. Inspera Assessment provides additional functionality to complement the existing suite of digital learning tools at UQ with a greater range of question types, accessibility provisions, and non-English languages. Further details, including an introduction to Inspera functionality, practice opportunities, and where to go for support, will be provided in the Blackboard site for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Lectures Lectures on fire ecology and palaeoecology. |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 10 |
Practical |
Practicals Practical activities on fire ecology and palaeoecology. |
Multiple weeks From Week 5 To Week 8 |
Case-based learning |
Poster |
Week 13 (21 Oct - 27 Oct) |
Problem-based learning |
Online Exam |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.