Grand Challenges: Making a Difference
Overview
Grand Challenges: Making a Difference is a capstone, project-based unit in which students grapple with pressing real-world issues. The unit gives students the opportunity to apply knowledge and skills they have gained over the course of their degree to one of the major social, cultural, and technological challenges of the 21st Century. Working in interdisciplinary teams, they undertake project-based research and analysis to generate creative solutions to wicked problems. They take part in a distinctive learning experience based on collaboration and mentoring to enhance problem-solving skills demanded in the contemporary workforce.
Requisites
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Systematically review, critically evaluate, and apply research from a variety of sources
- Formulate and synthesise arguments that are fit for purpose
- Generate and evaluate creative solutions to complex real world problems
- Work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary context
- Interpret and communicate ideas, problems, and arguments in creative ways suitable to a range of audiences
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Seminar | 2.00 | 6 weeks | 12 |
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Presentation | 4.00 | 1 week | 4 |
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Other | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Specified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Various | 4.00 | 11 weeks | 44 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Independent Learning | 18.00 | 12 weeks | 216 |
| TOTAL | 300 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artefact Analysis | Individual/Group | 40% | 2,3,4,5 |
| Presentation | Individual/Group | 20% | 3,4,5 |
| Project | Individual | 15% | 2,3 |
| Research Proposal with Annotated Bibliography | Individual | 15% | 1,3,5 |
| Review | Individual | 10% | 4 |
Content
The content for this unit may vary from year to year as it is based on topical social, political and cultural challenges.
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.