Outline

Overview

The contemporary world of work is complex and evolving. It demands purposeful planning, resilience, and agility that challenges traditional linear career-paths. Getting into a degree is one thing; forging your path with purpose is another. In this unit, students draw on academic and industry stakeholder insights as well as self-reflective practice to examine one of the most fundamental of complex problems - how to design your own future. They will analyse their own ambitions and apply these to the creation of a career/life plan shaped by consideration of desired social impact. Whether students know where they want to end up or not, design thinking methodologies will encourage them to reflect on their current state - strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes - and the kinds of activities that fulfill them. Reflection will translate to action, as students conceptualise and begin the life that they would like to lead. They will design future pathways, learn new ways of framing problems, and gain insight on how to hone decision making. Students will also harness the creative power of their peers to generate possibilities for how to prototype and test their ideas and embark on the first step of their chosen 'life'.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	OLES2617
Academic unit	Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Damian Birney, damian.birney@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Online task	Understanding Design Thinking Combination of multiple choice questions and short-answer questions.	25%	Week 05 Due date: 24 Mar 2024 at 23:59	1000 word equivalent / 40 mins
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Exploring Networks Written reflection.	25%	Week 09 Due date: 28 Apr 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 08 May 2024	1000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Creating a multi-media learning portfolio Reflective portfolio including curated learning artefacts across semester.	50%	Week 13 Due date: 26 May 2024 at 23:59 Closing date: 05 Jun 2024	3000 words
Outcomes assessed:

Assessment summary

“Understanding Design Thinking” is an online questionnaire, consisting of multiple choice questions and short response questions. It assesses students’ understanding of design thinking and critical reflection practices that are to be employed in designing their own futures.

“Exploring networks” is a written reflection task. It assesses students’ understanding of the importance of building networks for career planning and their ability to employ techniques to analyse and build their own networks.

“Creating a Multi-media Learning Portfolio” aims to engage students in tracking their progress in designing their own futures, as well as building skills and artefacts to draw on for future design and planning of their careers. Students will document their engagement and reflections on the unit of study’s core activities across the semester. In addition to submitting the portfolio, students will provide a final critical reflection on their learning journey and its perceived utility for their future contexts.

Assessment criteria

High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.
Absent fail	0 - 49	When you haven’t completed all assessment tasks or met the attendance requirements.
Cancelled	No mark	When your enrolment has been cancelled.
Discontinued not to count as failure	No mark	When you discontinue a unit under special circumstances (outlined in clause 92 of the Coursework Policy), after the relevant census date.
Discontinue – fail	No mark	When you discontinue a unit after the relevant census date but before the DF deadline, and you have not been granted a discontinuation under special circumstances.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

The Assessment Procedures 2011 provide that any written work submitted after 11:59pm on the due date will be penalised by 5% of the maximum awardable mark for each calendar day after the due date. If the assessment is submitted more than ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Online Lecture. This session will introduce the unit, and the key frameworks of Design Thinking and Reflective Practice for interrogating the complex problem of knowing yourself and designing your future.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	This exciting IN-PERSON event introduces industry professionals to draw on their authentic experiences and inspire students to be active participants in designing their employment and career pathways. Speakers are thought leaders in industry, entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship. (Venue: Seymour Centre, Everest Theatre)	Presentation (2.5 hr)
Week 03	Online Lecture. Knowing yourself through self-assessment. Understand ways of exploring your own personality and attributes, strengths and weaknesses.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Online Lecture and Online Tutorial. Knowing yourself as part of community. Understand the ways that different communities shape personal and professional identities. Understand aspects of culture that might be important to you - values, ideas, customs, ways of living.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Online Lecture + Online Tutorial. Articulating your now (current situation) and your potential futures! Explore the notion of multiple pathways and multiple alternative futures, starting from assessing where you are currently situated.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Online Lecture + Online Tutorial. Importance of engagement and networks. The Careers Centre leads this session, introducing a range of activities and resources available within The University of Sydney landscape and beyond.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Online Lecture. Identifying and harnessing enabling networks: from personal to professional. Learn from coaching psychologists about networking; theory and practice.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Online Lecture +Online Tutorial. Identifying and harnessing enabling networks: from personal to professional. Learn about a range of opportunities from faculty advisors and other information sources across the University of Sydney.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	No scheduled lecture/tutorial. Online resources will guide students to engage in their learning portfolio, both planning and activating engagement/networking in the University and beyond.	Individual study (2 hr)
Week 10	Online Lecture. Goal-setting and professional development. Learn from coaching psychologists about goal-setting; theory and practice.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Online Lecture + Online Tutorial. Setting, achieving and celebrating short term goals. Learn from coaching psychologists about goal-setting; theory and practice.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Online Lecture + Online Tutorial. Facing Challenges and Resilience Building. Presentations by industry and community partners on the importance of considering health and wellbeing in career and life planning, building resilience and adaptability.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Online Lecture + Online Tutorial. Mapping agile long-term goals, & reviewing and leveraging your learning.	Lecture and tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

It is expected that all students will attend the in-person event on Thursday 29th February.
It is also expected that students will attend online briefings each week, and all 7 tutorials across semester.
Attendance will be monitored each session across semester by lecturers and tutors.
Engagement in learning activities will affect grade outcomes, as outlined in assessment tasks and rubrics.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library’s reading list system Leganto, available on Canvas.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Understand how to apply the design thinking approach to developing their life/career
LO2. Understand how to apply the design thinking approach to developing their personal values and making ethical choices
LO3. Employ design thinking tools to navigate future uncertainty of their University experience
LO4. Employ design thinking tools to navigate the future uncertainty of their career/life
LO5. Analyse their own ambitions and apply these to the creation of a career/life and impact plan
LO6. Analyse their own goals and resources, leveraging industry and peer insights

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This is the first time this unit has been offered.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

OLES2617: Design Your Future

Semester 1, 2024 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect