PHYG12003 - Geological Science

General Information

Unit Synopsis

To provide the student with a knowledge of the structure, composition and mode of formation of the common rocks and materials. Students will also gain knowledge of the geological processes which sculptured the earth since its formation. On completion of the unit, the student will be able to define and identify the more common rock types, describe the processes which form them, and relate these processes to each other within the context of the unifying theory of Geology: Plate Tectonics. It is intended to develop some of the themes briefly developed in the first-year science unit, Applications of Environmental Science (ENVR 11012). While not a prerequisite, it would be advantageous to have completed this unit.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 2
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites There are no pre-requisites for the unit.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

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Residential School Compulsory Residential School
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Unit Availabilities from Term 3 - 2024

There are no availabilities for this unit on or after Term 3 - 2024

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Written Assessment 15%
2. Practical Assessment 20%
3. Group Work 10%
4. Written Assessment 15%
5. Examination 40%

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%).

Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades

Past Exams

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Previous Feedback

Term 1 - 2021 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 100.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 55.56% response rate.

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Source: Self-reflection & staff feedback
Feedback
The laboratory/practical aspects were difficult to run as no Residential School was run in Term 1, 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Recommendation
To seek assistance from Learning & Teaching to undertake high quality 3D photographs of the minerals, rocks and ores in our teaching collection to assist in online teaching via Zoom Tutorials
Action Taken
Some more 3D photographs were made but more need to be produced.
Source: Student feedback via Zoom and telephone conversations.
Feedback
To continue to offer a field trip for this unit so that the concepts and skills gained in the more theoretical parts of this unit could be tested in the field.
Recommendation
The set Term 1 Residential School field trip is to be offered in Term 3 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The training and use of field equipment and the acquisition of field skills will continue to be conducted and assessed, under supervision, in the field. Responses from student feedback are that they are all keen for the field trip to continue and to practice their recently acquired theoretical and practical skills in the field setting.
Action Taken
The 2020 Residential School cohort joined the 2021 cohort in Term1, 2021. Students from both cohorts stated the field trip was a highlight of the unit as it enabled them to practice their newly acquired theoretical and practical skills in the natural setting.
Source: Student emails, verbal communication and feedback from Student Evaluations.
Feedback
A highlight of the unit was the Residential School
Recommendation
Continue to offer Residential School with associated field trips that offer hands-on use of the equipment and the interpretation of rocks, minerals, ores and landscapes in the field.
Action Taken
In Progress
Source: Student emails, verbal communication and feedback from Student Evaluations
Feedback
Provided great feedback on assignments.
Recommendation
Will continue to offer high quality feedback on all assessment and practical work.
Action Taken
In Progress
Unit learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Define and identify the more common rock types.
  2. Describe the processes which form them.
  3. Relate these processes to each other within the context of the unifying theory of Geology: Plate Tectonics.

The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with Engineers Australia's Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineers.

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Written Assessment • • •
2 - Practical Assessment •
3 - Group Work • • •
4 - Written Assessment • • •
5 - Examination • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Communication • • •
2 - Problem Solving • • •
3 - Critical Thinking • • •
4 - Information Literacy • • •
5 - Team Work • • •
6 - Information Technology Competence • •
8 - Ethical practice •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment • • • • • • •
2 - Practical Assessment • • • • •
3 - Group Work • • • • • • •
4 - Written Assessment • • • • • • •
5 - Examination • • • • •