SCIENCE 3520 - Science Experience III

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2025

This course consists of an intensive study tour or virtual experience introducing science students to culture and society and providing an opportunity to visit a partner institution, participate in academic seminars and/or cultural activities. The course is designed to develop students' skills in observation, reflection, induction, and deduction of discipline-specific issues, develop graduates' knowledge of regional affairs, and gain confidence to work in one of a range of regional environments. As some of the tours are sponsored by specific industry bodies, they may want to be involved in the selection of students. In general, selection will be based on academic record, demonstrated ability to work well in groups and may include involvement in extracurricular activities and alignment to career aspirations.

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Course Details

Course Code	SCIENCE 3520
Course	Science Experience III
Coordinating Unit	Sciences, Engineering & Technology Faculty Office
Term	Semester 1
Level	Undergraduate
Location/s	North Terrace Campus
Units	3
Contact	Up to 52 hours structured learning activities per week for 3 week
Available for Study Abroad and Exchange	Y
Prerequisites	Entry into the course is based on GPA, written application and interview
Restrictions	Students are required to have completed at least 36 units of study
Assessment	Pre-experience assessment, professional experience assessment task (reflective diary, field book or equivalent and post experience reflection task)

Course Staff

Course Coordinator: Dr Glenn McDonald

Course Timetable

The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

Course Learning Outcomes

1.	Critically investigate and identify the elements of a scientific-related system (e.g., the physical, chemical and/or biological characteristics and processes; driving mechanisms, methods of analysis; implementation; management).
2.	Analyse current scientific practices and suggest alternative methods of analysis, experimental design, and/or management/implementation.
3.	Identify and reflect on the cultural and social context of scientific-related systems in different locations and/or industries.

University Graduate Attributes

This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

University Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome(s)
Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.	1, 2
Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.	1, 2
Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.	1, 2
Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.	1, 2, 3
Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.	3
Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.	3

Learning & Teaching Activities

Learning & Teaching Modes

No information currently available.

Workload

No information currently available.

Learning Activities Summary

Students will be required to undertake compulsory pre-experience activities and assessment, such as completion of online interactive material, or analysis of scenarios and case studies. Students will negotiate a suitable assessment task to be submitted after their experience as well as reflect on their own experiences and experiences of other participants.

Where practical, the assessment should include recommendations or some outcome for addressing issues they encounter during their experience that would be of benefit to the host community/industry.

The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
Assessment must maintain academic standards.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Type of assessment	Percentage of total assessment for grading purposes	Hurdle	Course learning outcomes being assessed	Approximate timing of assessment
Pre-experience assessment	Formative & summative	30%	No	1, 2	Week prior to commencing experience
Professional experience assessment task (reflective diary, field book or equivalent)	Formative & summative	30%	No	1, 2	Within three weeks of completion of the experience
Post experience report	Formative & summative	40%	No	1, 2, 3	Witihn three weeks of completion of the experience

Assessment Detail

Pre experience case studies and activities (30%): This will be developed as appropriate for the experience and could include case studies.

Students would be required to assess and understand social and cultural context of those case studies. This activity could be conducted in small groups/individually and aims to prepare the student for the experience..

Professional experience assessment task (30%)

The primary assessment task will be developed as appropriate for the experience. For tours, this would usually include a reflective diary or field book to be completed during the experience. This would be approximately 2000 words and will also include a synthesis and summary of up to 400 words.

Post experience report (40%)

Students will choose a topic related to the experience that they wish to research further, seek approval from the experience coordinator and then write an essay on the topic. Students would be required to consider the social and cultural context of the topic and include reflections from their experience (approximately 3000 words).

Students are encouraged to present and share their experience to other course participants in face to face presentation or using an online forum – eg blog or videoed presentation.

Submission

No information currently available.

Course Grading

Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
Grade	Mark	Description
FNS		Fail No Submission
F	1-49	Fail
P	50-64	Pass
C	65-74	Credit
D	75-84	Distinction
HD	85-100	High Distinction
CN		Continuing
NFE		No Formal Examination
RP		Result Pending

Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

Student Feedback

The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.
Student Support
Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
Fraud Awareness

Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.

Authorised by:	Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Maintained by:	Course Outlines Administrator