Would you like to make a difference to the world, but are not sure how, or where to start?

This course invites students into a workshop environment with guest speakers from inside and outside the university. You will learn about the wide range of ways of contributing to global challenges, helping you to find directions that fit with your strengths and interests and to develop a sense of agency and empowerment. The focus of the course is on positive engagement with issues (not lectures on problems) and on solution-oriented action. You will come away from the course with increased clarity about the directions available to you, and an increased capacity to make a difference.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Analyse the connections between their lives and large scale changes in society and our environment.
2. Understand the hierarchy of actions from personal choices up to mobilising positive change across society.
3. Demonstrate high level skills in working in teams; facilitate learning and provide developmental feedback to others.
4. Develop an action plan for an active and constructive social engagement and to commence implementation.
5. Apply a wide repertoire of leadership skills in a range of contexts including formal and informal settings and face-to-face and online environments.

Field Trips

A field trip is planned in week 2, and is anticipated to take approximately 3-4 hours. Details will be available on Wattle and in week 1 of the course.

Recommended Resources

Recommended student system requirements 

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work
• home-based assessment.

To fully participate in ANU learning, students need:

• A computer or laptop. Mobile devices may work well but in some situations a computer/laptop may be more appropriate.
• Webcam
• Speakers and a microphone (e.g. headset)
• Reliable, stable internet connection. Broadband recommended. If using a mobile network or wi-fi then check performance is adequate.
• Suitable location with minimal interruptions and adequate privacy for classes and assessments.
• Printing, and photo/scanning equipment

For more information please see https://www.anu.edu.au/students/systems/recommended-student-system-requirements

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Why optimism and agency? - sources of meaning, examples of optimism and agency, benefits of a values-based approach, identifying ones own values and strengths, and values we share
2	Field trip - an example of optimism and agency - details in Wattle	Field trip
3	Learning by doing, circles of influence, seeing the world as a system, and understanding how change occurs. Exercises to identify circle of concern and circle of influence. Team creation and identifying opportunities for action based on own values, strengths and circle of influence
4	Perserverance and how to think in times of crisis.
5	Design approach to projects: finding out what is needed, generating ideas, trying out ideas, iteration, reflection. Includes testing several approaches and having a method to evaluate them. Identifying a project and writing a project proposal
6	In-class feedback on project proposal and managing projects; the power of connecting and non-scary ways of thinking about networks	Project proposal due
7	Project check-in. Results of prototyping conversations. Discussion of reading materials.
8	Metacognition (how am I thinking about this situation?), seeing different perspectives and dialogue. Ways of constructing meaning.
9	Learning to reflect on progress, adjust direction and rescope as necessary. Project check-in and and reflection - checking direction, progress and pivoting, group discussion of learnings to date	Learning portfolio due
10	Practice activities in presention
11	Student presentations of major projects	Major project group component due
12	Translate learnings from the course into future choices. How can I take what I have learned in this course and apply it through the rest of my degree program? Of the different paths to contribution, which appeal to me? What experiments could I do to see if they are a good fit? And: What are my concrete next steps beyond this course and when will I do them?	Major project individual component due in exam period

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Project proposal	10 %	03/09/2022	1,2,4
Learning portfolio	25 %	05/10/2022	1,2,3,4,5
Major project (group component)	30 %	18/10/2021	1,2,3,4,5
Major project (individual component)	35 %	04/11/2021	1,2,4,5

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Project proposal

2-3 pages. Should include the aims of your project, what approach you will take and why, what resources you require and whether they are available, what the outputs of your project will be, and how you will evaluate your project. Full details are on the Wattle site.

Assessment Task 2

Learning portfolio

This will be a collection of in-class and weekly exercises, plus an integrative task. Full details are on the Wattle site.

Assessment Task 3

Major project (group component)

Video or live presentation in week 11. The presentation should explain the aims of your project and showcase what you have achieved.

Full details are on the Wattle site.

Assessment Task 4

Major project (individual component)

This consists of one of a choice of outputs, plus a 1-page reflection. Full details are on the Wattle site.

Different types of outputs will be appropriate to different types of project. 

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be returned to students via Wattle.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmisison is not permitted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students