Units

---

Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

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

Rationale

Criminal Intelligence is a unit in the Major in Policing. Policing is increasingly taking a leading role in investigations with analysts setting a direction for criminal investigation teams. The unit exposes you to the essentials of criminal intelligence system, the intelligence process and creative problem solving skills. Intelligence professionals are also concerned with support to government, the private sector and the community. Criminal intelligence offers an advantage through the provision of accurate and timely advice. Criminal intelligence requires proficiency in thinking strategies and skills, interpersonal effectiveness skills, teamwork and application of intelligence process methodologies in a variety of cultural contexts.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to introduce you to fundamental criminal intelligence concepts and practice with a view to providing you with a clear understanding of the role of criminal intelligence in law enforcement.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit you should be able to:
1.Demonstrate a foundation knowledge and understanding of intelligence and the role of intelligence in investigations and demonstrate the generic attribute of research;
2. Explain the essential roles of multidisciplinary knowledge and interdisciplinary co-operation in production of intelligence and demonstrate the generic attribute of multidisciplinary and ethical knowledge;
3. Demonstrate, through written papers, a knowledge of the application of the essential elements of an intelligence system in the provision of intelligence support and demonstrate the attribute of reflective practice;
4. Demonstrate the ability to apply intelligence process methodologies in assessing issues associated with the environment, the economy and society and demonstrate the attribute of critical thinking; and
5. Demonstrate the ability to process information, produce intelligence and disseminate intelligence for specific issues in a range of designated contexts and demonstrate the attribute of written communication.

Content

1. The principles of intelligence (essentials of an intelligence system), the types of intelligence, and areas of application;
2. Characteristics of the intelligence professional, interpersonal effectiveness skills, ethics and integrity;
3. Process, content and problem solving skills;
4. Integrated sustained thinking - self-awareness and awareness of others' differing skills, styles and preferences toward thinking, learning and information processing;
5. The intelligence process as an action-oriented, multi-faceted, systemic research paradigm for producing accurate and timely intelligence products;
6. Collection management and collection planning: professional models, concepts and methods
7. Information processing: methods of collation, analysis, data base management and data presentation; information processing models and practices;
8. Dissemination: oral, written, graphic/pictorial and electronic methods; and 9. Complex practical simulation exercise incorporating the processing of information resulting in the production of various intelligence products.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The content of this unit will be delivered in external mode only. Using interactive technologies such as Eluminate and other contemporary teaching and learning application, students will work through nine (9) topic areas which combine theory with practice before moving into a simulated operational exercise. The simulation replicates an operational environment in which the student performs the duties of an intelligence officer assigned to a particular investigation. The student is presented with information, tips sheets, templates and concise instructions governing the production of a number of intelligence products, which will include (amongst other items) an 8 minute oral intelligence briefing using narrative PowerPoint software as well as a 2-page Briefing Note. Emphasis is placed upon applying in practice what the student has learnt in theory.
The unit adopts an interactive teaching-learning approach by encouraging students to be self-directed in their learning experience. Students can progress through the nine (9) topic areas at their own pace. Each topic area is supported by a PowerPoint presentation, selected readings (in some topics), key review questions (which students will use to self-test their knowledge) and a specific topic activity. Several units contain multiple topic activities which students are required to successfully complete before moving onto the next topic. Students can submit their activity responses online through the link on the blackboard site to verify their responses. These activities do not form part of the formal assessment for this unit.

A self-regulated learning approach is used so that students will take some responsibility for their own learning. Students have input into the teaching-learning strategies and the subject workload through continuous feedback opportunities, which are offered both informally and formally. Students are required work independently of one another during the semester. The students can at anytime contact the lecturer via a direct weblink contained on blackboard site to ask any questions or to clarify any of the information presented.

As this unit is delivered externally the unit coordinators will host E-luminate sessions on a fortnightly basis during the course of the semester so as to provide feedback to students and to clarify any content and assessment issues.


This Unit does not follow the standard 'lecture, tutorial' format.

Assessment

A combination of summative and formative assessment items are used to evaluate student performance.

Academic Honesty
Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the Academic Integrity Kit , and the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.

This unit may use the SafeAssign tool in BlackBoard. SafeAssign is a text matching tool that assists students to develop the academic skills required to correctly use and cite reference material as well as to check citations and determine possible instances of plagiarism. You may be asked to use SafeAssign, in which case you will be expected to submit draft and/or final versions of one or more assignments and may be asked to answer a short online survey about the tool. Using SafeAssign does not constitute formal submission of an assignment. Your Unit Coordinator will provide detailed information on how the software will be used for individual assignments. The use of the tool is for educative purposes and is entirely voluntary.Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
Formal: in writing, e.g. criteria sheets, written commentary
Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment name: Annotated Bibliography
Description: Written assignment
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, and 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Project (research)
Description: Simulation Exercise: This assessment requires the student to work as individuals in preparing an criminal intelligence assessment and accompanying intelligence briefing from the materials provided. Teams will be presented with a scripted scenario from which they prepare a series of intelligence outcomes and deliverables. This assessment is accompanied by a detailed instruction package which is provided to student online once the assessment commences. Students must complete all assigned tasks by the due date and time in order to satisfy the minimum requirements for this component of the assessment.
Relates to objectives: This piece of assessment will address objectives 1, 3, 4, and 5 and demonstrates the generic attributes of research, reflective practice, critical thinking, as well as oral and written communication.
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 12

Assessment name: Online examination
Description: A 30 question multiple choice exam testing the students knowledge of the material covered during the course of the semester
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: External
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

There are no texts for this unit. Readings will be made available via QUT Blackboard. Students will be provided with all of the materials they need to succeed in the unit. However, they are encouraged to purchase the recommended reading. Recommended Reading: Peterson, Marilyn B., Intelligence 2000: Revising the Basic Elements, LEIU and IALEIA, USA, 2000.

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: 09-Aug-2012