General Information
This subject outlines Australia's natural and human development: continental origins; the oldest life forms yet found on Earth; the origin and adaptation of marsupial fauna; the drying of the continent and the story of the oldest continuous human culture in the world - the Australian Aborigines. It examines Aboriginal art, social and belief systems and survival of Aboriginal culture after colonisation. It will be a valuable subject for students of History, Geography, Environmental and Natural Sciences, Anthropology, Archaeology, Palaeontology, and Social and Cultural Studies.
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Details
Academic unit: Faculty of Society & Design Subject code: AUST11-101 Subject title: Australia: Dreamtime to Dust Subject level: Undergraduate Semester/Year: September 2019 Credit points: 10.000 -
Delivery & attendance
Timetable: https://bond.edu.au/timetable Delivery mode: Standard Workload items: - Lecture: x12 (Total hours: 24) - Weekly Lecture
- Tutorial: x12 (Total hours: 12) - Weekly Tutorial
- Personal Study Hours: x12 (Total hours: 84) - Recommended Study Hours
Attendance and learning activities: Apart from attending lectures and tutorials on campus, students are also expected to participate in two experiential learning trips. These field trips will involve meeting with and learning from local indigenous people. -
Resources
Prescribed resources: No Prescribed resources.
After enrolment, students can check the Books and Tools area in iLearn for the full Resource List.iLearn@Bond & Email: iLearn@Bond is the online learning environment at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, lecture recordings and detailed subject information regarding the subject curriculum, assessment and timing. Both iLearn and the Student Email facility are used to provide important subject notifications. Additionally, official correspondence from the University will be forwarded to students’ Bond email account and must be monitored by the student. To access these services, log on to the Student Portal from the Bond University website as www.bond.edu.au
| Academic unit: | Faculty of Society & Design |
|---|---|
| Subject code: | AUST11-101 |
| Subject title: | Australia: Dreamtime to Dust |
| Subject level: | Undergraduate |
| Semester/Year: | September 2019 |
| Credit points: | 10.000 |
| Timetable: | https://bond.edu.au/timetable |
|---|---|
| Delivery mode: | Standard |
| Workload items: |
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| Attendance and learning activities: | Apart from attending lectures and tutorials on campus, students are also expected to participate in two experiential learning trips. These field trips will involve meeting with and learning from local indigenous people. |
| Prescribed resources: | No Prescribed resources. After enrolment, students can check the Books and Tools area in iLearn for the full Resource List. |
|---|---|
| iLearn@Bond & Email: | iLearn@Bond is the online learning environment at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, lecture recordings and detailed subject information regarding the subject curriculum, assessment and timing. Both iLearn and the Student Email facility are used to provide important subject notifications. Additionally, official correspondence from the University will be forwarded to students’ Bond email account and must be monitored by the student. To access these services, log on to the Student Portal from the Bond University website as www.bond.edu.au |
Enrolment requirements
| Requisites: |
Nil |
|---|---|
| Assumed knowledge: |
Assumed knowledge is the minimum level of knowledge of a subject area that students are assumed to have acquired through previous study. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they meet the assumed knowledge expectations of the subject. Students who do not possess this prior knowledge are strongly recommended against enrolling and do so at their own risk. No concessions will be made for students’ lack of prior knowledge.
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| Restrictions: |
Nil |
Assurance of learning
Assurance of Learning means that universities take responsibility for creating, monitoring and updating curriculum, teaching and assessment so that students graduate with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need for employability and/or further study.
At Bond University, we carefully develop subject and program outcomes to ensure that student learning in each subject contributes to the whole student experience. Students are encouraged to carefully read and consider subject and program outcomes as combined elements.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Program Learning Outcomes provide a broad and measurable set of standards that incorporate a range of knowledge and skills that will be achieved on completion of the program. If you are undertaking this subject as part of a degree program, you should refer to the relevant degree program outcomes and graduate attributes as they relate to this subject.
Subject Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject the learner will be able to:
- Demonstrate their understanding of major stages in the physical and biological evolution of the Australian continent, the supercontinent Gondwana; Australia's oldest life forms on the planet; and Australia's dinosaurs, and megafauna
- Identify key aspects of the story of human migration & evolution across the planet, as a prelude to the entry of the first people into Australia
- Formulate and convey their understanding of the culture of the first Australians, their special relationship with the land, social and organisational networks, the notion of the 'Dreaming', Aboriginal art, and methods of hunting and gathering
- Formulate autonomous and responsible judgement in understanding aspects of Indigenous cultures in Australia and globally.
Generative Artificial Intelligence in Assessment
The University acknowledges that Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) tools are an important facet of contemporary life. Their use in assessment is considered in line with students’ development of the skills and knowledge which demonstrate learning outcomes and underpin study and career success. Instructions on the use of Gen-AI are given for each assessment task; it is your responsibility to adhere to these instructions.
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Assessment details
Type Task % Timing* Outcomes assessed Computer-aided Test (Closed) Mid-Term Test includes multiple-choice and short answer questions. The test covers the contents of the sessions discussed in the first part of the semester. 45.00% Week 8 1,2,3 *Class Participation Participation in the tutorial discussion 10.00% Ongoing 1,2,3,4 Project Students will work on a Project in the Australian Studies approved by the professor. The form of the assessment may include either a seminar presentation or a video. Students will work in small groups. Details will be introduced at the beginning of the semester. 45.00% In Consultation 1,2,3,4 - * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
- C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.
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Assessment criteria
Assessment criteria
High Distinction 85-100 Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking. Distinction 75-84 Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas. Credit 65-74 Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above. Pass 50-64 Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment. Fail 0-49 Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines. Quality assurance
For the purposes of quality assurance, Bond University conducts an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.
| Type | Task | % | Timing* | Outcomes assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer-aided Test (Closed) | Mid-Term Test includes multiple-choice and short answer questions. The test covers the contents of the sessions discussed in the first part of the semester. | 45.00% | Week 8 | 1,2,3 |
| *Class Participation | Participation in the tutorial discussion | 10.00% | Ongoing | 1,2,3,4 |
| Project | Students will work on a Project in the Australian Studies approved by the professor. The form of the assessment may include either a seminar presentation or a video. Students will work in small groups. Details will be introduced at the beginning of the semester. | 45.00% | In Consultation | 1,2,3,4 |
- * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
- C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.
Assessment criteria
| High Distinction | 85-100 | Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking. |
|---|---|---|
| Distinction | 75-84 | Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas. |
| Credit | 65-74 | Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above. |
| Pass | 50-64 | Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment. |
| Fail | 0-49 | Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines. |
Quality assurance
For the purposes of quality assurance, Bond University conducts an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.
Study Information
Submission procedures
Students must check the iLearn@Bond subject site for detailed assessment information and submission procedures.
Policy on late submission and extensions
A late penalty will be applied to all overdue assessment tasks unless an extension is granted by the subject coordinator. The standard penalty will be 10% of marks awarded to that assessment per day late with no assessment to be accepted seven days after the due date. Where a student is granted an extension, the penalty of 10% per day late starts from the new due date.
Academic Integrity
University’s Academic Integrity Policy defines plagiarism as the act of misrepresenting as one’s own original work: another’s ideas, interpretations, words, or creative works; and/or one’s own previous ideas, interpretations, words, or creative work without acknowledging that it was used previously (i.e., self-plagiarism). The University considers the act of plagiarising to be a breach of the Student Conduct Code and, therefore, subject to the Discipline Regulations which provide for a range of penalties including the reduction of marks or grades, fines and suspension from the University.
Bond University utilises Originality Reporting software to inform academic integrity.Feedback on assessment
Feedback on assessment will be provided to students within two weeks of the assessment submission due date, as per the Assessment Policy.
Accessibility and Inclusion Support
If you have a disability, illness, injury or health condition that impacts your capacity to complete studies, exams or assessment tasks, it is important you let us know your special requirements, early in the semester. Students will need to make an application for support and submit it with recent, comprehensive documentation at an appointment with a Disability Officer. Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Office at the earliest possible time, to meet staff and learn about the services available to meet your specific needs. Please note that late notification or failure to disclose your disability can be to your disadvantage as the University cannot guarantee support under such circumstances.
Additional subject information
The two field trips will include one day on North Stradbroke Island and one day in Brisbane. Field trip 1: Stradbroke Island (Daytrip): Field Trip 1 will take place in week 8, on the day of the first scheduled tutorial in the subject During the first field trip, Dreamtime to Dust students will have a unique opportunity to attend a day visit to Minjerribah (Stradbroke Island) for a cultural experience with the traditional Indigenous owners of the island. Students will be guests of the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee people, who will welcome you to the island and take you for a cultural tour of Aboriginal places of significance and importance to them. The big emphasis of the tour will be the notion of land and belonging to 'country' through ownership, cultural management and being part of the environment. The island sessions will also focus on archaeological sites in terms of traditional diet, based on gathering and fishing of this coastal community over 20,000 years old. There will be plenty of opportunity to talk with the local people and ask questions regarding culture and their survival in the face of modern development and other pressures. Field trip 2: Queensland Museum, Brisbane (day trip): Field Trip 2 will take place in week 9, on the day of the first scheduled tutorial in the subject. During the second field excursion, Dreamtime to Dust students will visit and learn about one of the best museums in Australia, the Queensland Museum in Brisbane. In the museum the group will be guided by a respected Goenpul Traditional Owner and Elder of the Quandamooka Indigenous community on Stradbroke Island and is a Senior Curator and Manager of Repatriation and Community Engagement at the museum. She will guide the group through the museum's locked storage areas normally closed to members of the public. There, students will view one of the largest collections of stored material culture in Australia. The collection contains every day, hunting, gathering and ceremonial objects from Australia and New Guinea and rare items not found elsewhere in Australia. Objects viewed will include spears, shields, feather decorations, and many stone, bone and wooden items such as boomerangs, axes, fishing spears, nets, mats, effigies and painted items from contrasting environments like the rainforest and desert. The visit will focus on discussing museological methods of preservation, repatriation and storage, and the role museums play in keeping secret and sacred objects and human remains. Faculty of Society and Design will cover the costs of the field trips. These educational trips are essential for the successful completion of the subject requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the lecturer of anything that may prevent them from attending and participating in the field trips. Professor Steve Webb, who will accompany the group, will provide further details of the trips at the beginning of the semester. Scheduled tutorials will be suspended in those weeks.
Subject curriculum
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Australia's First Walkabout: the Origin of a Continent
As arguably the oldest continent, the subject uses the first three weeks to outline the process of continental development and the natural networks that go to make up 4.4 billion years of Australia's and the wider planetary development these are described through a review of geological, biological and climatic change the world has passed through. We look at the super-continent Gondwana and the earliest lifeforms that have been found in Australia.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate their understanding of major stages in the physical and biological evolution of the Australian continent, the supercontinent Gondwana; Australia's oldest life forms on the planet; and Australia's dinosaurs, and megafauna
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A Continent of Unique Diversity
After laying the foundations for the Australian continent, we look at the reasons why Australia became so dry. These are outlined through 4 majors stages over 65 million years. The environmental change that accompanied this process are examined together with the reasons why we have our present ecosystems. A major climatic shift transformed a cool, rainforest covered continent to that of the driest inhabited continent in the world. It was the time for the arrival of our first marsupials and we see how they evolved on this continent.
SLOs included
- Identify key aspects of the story of human migration & evolution across the planet, as a prelude to the entry of the first people into Australia
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A Continent of Unique Diversity (Continued)
After seeing how the modern continent formed together with its marsupial fauna we trace the final stages of its drying and look at the changes taking place among our plants and animals..
SLOs included
- Identify key aspects of the story of human migration & evolution across the planet, as a prelude to the entry of the first people into Australia
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The emergence of modern Australia
We now have an understanding how Australia formed and became what it is today, It is time to put human on it. Without understanding how the Australian continent works it is difficult to understand the ancient culture that grew up here. So this week we begin the story of how humanity evolved and spread around the world. We see how for over two million years various hominins have pushed out from Africa and colonised places as far away as Indonesia and China.
SLOs included
- Formulate and convey their understanding of the culture of the first Australians, their special relationship with the land, social and organisational networks, the notion of the 'Dreaming', Aboriginal art, and methods of hunting and gathering
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Out of Africa, into Australia: The First Human Migrations.
This week we continue the story of human migrations around the world,. But we now follow the rise of Modern Humans and their cousins the neanderthals and see how they set up colonies across Asia, Southeast Asia eventually moving into Australasia and Australia itself. We examine what route they took to reach their goals. We see a glimpse of who these people were, how they lived and how they gradually developed the technical skills to take them across open oceans. were to modern humans. We also look at their skills and capabilities for making tools, crossing water gaps, using proto-language and see who the first people to arrive in Australia might have been. The genetic evidence for these people will be reviewed as an aid to understanding where and when people moved about.
SLOs included
- Formulate and convey their understanding of the culture of the first Australians, their special relationship with the land, social and organisational networks, the notion of the 'Dreaming', Aboriginal art, and methods of hunting and gathering
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Australia's First People
Finally, in this section of the subject, we look at the evidence for the first people who arrived in Australia and where and how they might have arrived here. We look particularly at a couple of special examples of human who lived in Southern Australia and see how their culture and belief systems have been interpreted from the archaeological record.We also take a look at the issues of the extinction of the giant marsupial megafauna & review some of the ideas that have been put forward to explain it. In the second part of the subject, we will undertake two fieldtrips: in week 8 and week 9, on the day when the first weekly tutorial is scheduled for. This unique opportunity for experiential learning will give the students an opportunity to learn outside the campus.
SLOs included
- Formulate autonomous and responsible judgement in understanding aspects of Indigenous cultures in Australia and globally.
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'My Country': Aboriginal People and the Land
In this part of the course, various aspects of Aboriginal culture are examined. We begin by introducing four cultural corners stones: ties to the land, social organisation and kinship, ritual and ceremony and the notion of the secret and sacred and transmission of culture. This week we examine special ties to the land and what the land means to Aboriginal people and how they see the land in a different perspective from that of an economic resource.
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Aboriginal Social Organisation
Social organisation and kinship tie Aboriginal people together in a vast network of relationships at many levels. In this way a social universe is built to encompass everybody: it is a universe which no Aboriginal person can live outside. The network involves totemic attachment to places in the landscape through relationships handed down over generations using bands, language groups, clans, moieties, phratries, skin group relationships and totemic association.
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Art and Transcontinental Trade
We examine art styles from different parts of the continent. Aboriginal people see and use their art in a different way than Europeans see theirs. Aboriginal art is functional not necessarily aesthetic, it describes the country, bush foods, ancestry, spiritual places and stories, it relates lore, Dreaming Tracks and how things took place in the Dreaming. Most of all it features the ancestral spirits and their stories.
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Survival Strategies and Health
Hunting and gathering has been a way of life for Aboriginal people for millennia. We review what it means to live in the desert, how people feed themselves and find water and how the people themselves have physiologically adapted to a feast and famine diet. The desert lifestyle is then contrasted with that in the tropics. The health of Aboriginal people depended upon the success of their economic adaptation to the various Australian environments.
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Economic and Demographic Change
The common conception of Aboriginal economics is one of the wandering hunter & gatherer. Although this particular lifestyle was dominant because of the type of landscape that covers most of Australia, other methods of feeding the population did take place. We look at the economic intensification of Aboriginal groups in Victoria as an example of this. There, canals & small lakes were constructed to provided bigger harvest of eels and fish.