SCI1000 Science communication to influence change
Faculty of Science
SCI1000 Science communication to influence change is a level 1, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2023 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2023
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 5 tasks
This is the 2023 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before SCI1000
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After SCI1000
No unit lists SCI1000 as a prerequisite in the 2023 handbook.
Enrolment rules
PROHIBITION: SCI2010, SCI2015, SCI1005 and S3001 The Bachelor of Science Advanced - Global Challenges (Honours).
Overview
SCI1000 will provide you with the fundamental principles of science communication and practice. These skills will be essential for becoming an effective communicator and scientist.
You will learn how to:
- Write, speak about and visually represent science for diverse audiences;
- Self-reflect, self-review, and peer review in the context of science communication;
- Investigate scientific inquiry, science regulation, the progression of science, and how science influences society.
After completing this unit, you will have gained foundational science communication skills and additional skills required by practicing scientists. You will further develop and apply these skills in your future study, career, and everyday life to effect change.
This unit is unique in science because we follow industry-based assessment practices. You will be assessed as achieving competencies (i.e., competent or not yet competent), rather than following grade-based approaches (i.e., 8/10, which equals HD).
Offerings in 2023
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- Assessment hurdleOtherCompetency hurdle-
- InfographicOther-
- Popular articleOther-
- Self and peer-assessmentOther-
- Additional assessmentOtherCompetency hurdle-
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Communicate science effectively to diverse audiences; across multiple modes;
- 2
Design communication that meets the competencies of best practice in science communication;
- 3
Critique your performance and that of your peers against the science communication competencies;
- 4
Critically investigate the history, development, practice and regulation of science, and how science has shaped society.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops24 hours
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- 2-hours of workshop activities;
- 4-hours of online interactive content (videos, readings, instruction and reflection) and
- 6-hours of completing assessments per week
Online modules and workshops will include formative activities, using a variety of interactive techniques. These are designed to help you clarify and begin to consolidate concepts. You will have opportunities to provide feedback on your understanding.
You will develop skills to communicate verbally, visually, and in written formats. The assessment tasks will require you to research a topic and communicate it in two, out of three, of these formats. You will need to consult primary, secondary, and governmental literature (where appropriate) to source information for your topic and reformulate this to communicate it to the desired audience.
You will receive the majority of your feedback via self and peer assessment. A crucial part of building skills is recognising your ability to meet science communication competencies through self-assessment and identifying the development of competencies in your peers through peer assessment. You will use peer assessment tools to provide self-assessment and peer feedback during the unit. Assessing your peers will also support your learning throughout this unit.
SCI1000 is arranged into three 4-week modules, with each culminating in a piece of assessment to meet the science communication competencies. The modules will present the curriculum in online materials such as readings, Moodle lessons, and embedded videos.
Learning resources
Required resources
Weekly Readings and Video Content via Moodle Lessons/Books
Weekly content will be arranged using “Moodle Lessons” and/or “Moodle Books”. These two formats arrange content into a linear learning experience, and step you through important content. An important advantage of this format is that ungraded formative assessment can be embedded throughout, allowing you to check your understanding and progress through the topic.
Feedback Fruits
Peer Assessment will be facilitated via Feedback Fruits, a Moodle-integrated platform
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Bronwyn Isaac
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Bronwyn Isaac
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for SCI1000?
SCI1000 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is SCI1000 offered?
In 2023, SCI1000 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Clayton.
Does SCI1000 have an exam?
No. SCI1000 has 5 assessment tasks and no exam.