Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Social work students are studying for professional careers that enhance people's personal and social wellbeing and development as well as promoting problem solving in personal and social relationships. To do this, students need to understand how people develop, mature and consequently behave. In order to understand this students need to consider the impact of a range of bio/psycho/social and cultural determinants on individual and social wellbeing.

Aims

This unit is designed to provide students with knowledge of human development and behaviour with a particular focus on implications for social work practice.

Objectives

After completing this unit students will:
1. Critically analyse the impacts of a range of bio/psycho/social and cultural determinants on individual and social wellbeing
2. Critically analyse the impact of diversity and difference on human behaviour and development
3. Critically reflect on, and apply, knowledge of theories of human development and behaviour to social work practice


Learning outcomes link to:
AASW Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards: 3.1, 3.6, 4.1.1, 4.1.3, 4.1.4, 4.2.2
AASW Practice Standards: 1.1, 1.7, 2.1, 2.3

Content

Students will learn about:

• Biological, psychological and sociological theories of human development and behaviour


• Psychosocial influences on human development and behaviour


• Socio / cultural influences on human development and behaviour


• The relevance of theories of human development and behaviour for social work practice

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The unit will involve four days of on campus sessions and an amount of independent study and collaborative learning.. The first on campus session will be in Orientation week then in weeks 4, 8 and 12. Students will participate in large and small group activities including lecture attendance, discussions and informal question and answer sessions. Blackboard will provide an important medium for communication resources. Case studies will support your efforts to apply the theories you are learning about to individuals and communities.

Assessment

There are two pieces of assessment namely a presentation and a case study.Students will receive formative feedback during the semester using a range of collaborative and virtual technologies based within Blackboard including an assessment feedback Wiki and Web conferencing sessions.

Assessment name: Presentation
Description: This assessment will be a presentation delivered in the third or fourth on campus session.the second block of intensives (day 3 and 4 - date to be announced). The presentation will comprise an in-depth consideration of one key aspect of your chosen case study (assessment item 2), it may relate to a particular individual, incident or issue within the case study. The presentation will refer to relevant theory and will critically analyse bio/psycho/social and cultural influences impacting on the particular chosen aspect. Weight: 40% (20% peer assessed).
Relates to objectives: 1-3
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Day 3 or 4

Assessment name: Case Study
Description: This case study (3,500 words) will involve you in developing and analysing a case study which comprises a vehicle for consideration of a range of bio/psycho/social and cultural influences on behaviour and development. You will demonstrate your learning by analysing and assessing the intersecting nature of issues, influences and processes impacting on the case with reference to relevant theories.
Relates to objectives: 1-3
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 13

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

The required text for this unit will be:
Harms, L. (2010). Understanding human development: a multidimensional approach (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Vic: Oxford University Press.

Students will also be provided with a reading schedule which will include material from the following sources. Required readings will either be from the text or available as an EBook, via the Course Materials Database, or via a link to the article on Blackboard. These books will also be useful for you in your research for your final essay.

Crawford, K., & Walker, J. (2010). Social work and human development. Exeter: Learning Matters.

Hutchison, E. and Contributors. (2011). Dimensions of human behavior: Person and environment. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Ingleby, E. (2010). Applied psychology for social workers. Exeter: Learning Matters.

Parrish, M. (2009). Social work perspectives on human behaviour [eBook]. Maidenhead, UK: Open University Press.

Westen, D., Burton, L. & Kowalski, R. W. (2008). Psychology: Australian and New Zealand Edition ebook (2nd ed.). Milton, Qld: John Wiley & Sons.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 25-Mar-2013