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Unit of study_

SOIL3888: Protecting the Soil Resource

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Remote

The University of Sydney's new curriculum aims to provide increased experiential, collaborative and interdisciplinary learning and project-based learning is a core component of this. The SOIL3888 interdisciplinary project unit provides an opportunity for you to be part of an interdisciplinary student team that investigates a real world problem involving soil inregional or peri-urban NSW. Each student will select to work on a project related to agriculture or to the environment. Both projects will involve 2-5 days of fieldwork for soil observation and sampling. Students will work collaboratively in a series of practical sessions (before and after the fieldwork) to digitally map soil attributes, and to critically analyse all collected and mapped data. Each project group will then compile a 'consultant's report' for the landholder(s), detailing the issue or problem, the diagnosis and the recommended management strategies to optimize crop production/ecosystem services, while protecting the soil resource. For all students enrolled in SOIL3888, the fieldwork and practical sessions will be scaffolded with a series of lectures covering the high capability agricultural soils of eastern Australia and the various forms of soil degradation that must be managed for to protect our valuable soil resources. The project experience in this unit will give you the opportunity to apply your soil science skills and disciplinary knowledge (Graduate Quality 1) to an authentic problem and develop the other Graduate Qualities (2-6) that will be valuable for your future career.

Unit details and rules

Unit code SOIL3888
Academic unit Life and Environmental Sciences Academic Operations
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
SOIL2004
Prerequisites
? 
96cp including SOIL2005 or GEOS2X16
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Stephen Cattle, stephen.cattle@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Oral exam
? 
Viva voce examination
Oral exam of approximately 20 minutes' duration per student
30% Formal exam period 20 minutes (oral)
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO7
Assignment Mapping and definition of issue report
An individual written report, including maps and figures
20% Week 05 500-1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment group assignment Consultants' report
Group written report on the outcome of the project
30% Week 12 2000-3000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Presentation group assignment Consultants' presentation
Group Powerpoint presentation of project outcomes
20% Week 12 30 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Assessment grading

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard.

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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.

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.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 High capability agricultural soils of NSW Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 02 Diagnosing soil acidification Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 03 Combatting soil salinisation Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Understanding the research question Practical (2 hr) LO3
Week 04 Understanding possible soil contaminants and toxicities Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Science Communication Workshop Online class (2 hr) LO4
Week 05 Minimising soil erosion risk Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Week 06 Reversing soil structural degradation Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Project work - assembling data Practical (2 hr) LO5 LO6
Week 07 Maximising soil biodiversity Lecture (2 hr) LO1 LO2
Project work - sampling plans Practical (2 hr) LO3 LO6
Week 08 Soil and plant sampling fieldtrip to Nowley Field trip (28 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7
Project work - processing soil and plant samples Practical (3 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 09 Project work - processing soil and plant samples Practical (3 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 10 Project work - digital soil mapping Practical (3 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 11 Project work - analysis, interpretation of data Practical (3 hr) LO5 LO6 LO7
Week 12 Project work - presentation of Consultants' reports Practical (3 hr) LO7 LO8 LO9

Attendance and class requirements

All lectures are expected to be online in 2021. Students are expected to be online via Zoom for all of these lectures. Scheduled practical sessions and the fieldtrip will proceed in person if public health advice regarding COVID-19 allows it. If not, there will be online-only practicals via Zoom. Students are expected to attend all practical sessions either in person or online.

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.

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.

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

  • LO1. Apply and develop discipline knowledge in real-life situations
  • LO2. Integrate discipline knowledge with the knowledge of other disciplines
  • LO3. Define and delimit authentic problems and respond effectively and creatively to solve them
  • LO4. Outline the project problem(s), investigation strategy and findings and effectively communicate this information using multiple modes to diverse audiences
  • LO5. Collect and analyze information and engage digital literacy skills throughout the project
  • LO6. Employ productive, collaborative and open work practices across diverse groups and across cultural boundaries
  • LO7. Demonstrate interdisciplinary effectiveness
  • LO8. Show integrity, confidence, personal resilience and the capacity to manage challenges
  • LO9. Demonstrate professional and social responsibility and contribute positively to society

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Additional costs

If the fieldtrip goes ahead, there will a fee of $150 per student to cover transport, accommodation and some meals.

Work, health and safety

Risk assessments provided for the fieldtrip;

  • Use of soil-related hand tools
  • Snakes and snake bite
  • Walking in terrain (general)

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) provided for practical sessions;

  • Soil pH, EC
  • Soil particle size analysis

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.