Java Python CULT2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences
Spring 2024
1 About Ethics in the Social Sciences
1.1 An Introduction to this Subject
This subject introduces students to the nature of western ethics and moral discourses, to ethical methodology and to the possibilities and limits of ethical discourse and practice. It covers the history of the formalisation of ethics as well as its current philosophical, sociological, and professional dimensions. It also deals with various case studies of ethical issues and moral debates students may encounter in their everyday day and professional lives. Students will be invited to reflect on moral discourse(s), their own understanding of morality, and on the use of ethics for social justice and fairness.
Study Load
A student is expected to study an hour per credit point a week. For example a 10 credit point subject would require
10 hours of study per week. This time includes the time spent within classes during lectures, tutorials or practicals.
Note for Summer Terms: As Summer subjects deliver the same content and classes over a shorter period of time, the subjects are run in a more intensive mode. Regardless of the delivery mode, the study hours for each subject in Summer will be around 30 hours.
Attendance
It is strongly recommended that students attend all scheduled learning activities to support their learning.
Approach to Learning
Subject Philosophy
Each person in this pedagogical space deserves to be part of its teaching and learning community - each citizen belongs and is embraced. This community’s citizens are thus expected to be engaged with, and be respectful of, this co-created learning space as well as their fellow citizens. All citizens’ thoughts and experiences are valued for the significant contributions they make to a rich learning environment - there are no right or wrong answers, but rather vibrant and diverse possibilities to be argued. This subject acknowledges that learning at a tertiary level has challenges and triumphs, and embraces both as part of the holistic growth of its citizens.
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Ethics in the Social Sciences emphasises active learning, where students are expected to engage (critically and respectfully) with the subject content and learning community. This general approach to pedagogy is captured in the subject’s philosophy (above). This subject takes a student-centred pedagogical approach that is founded upon community-focused learning. In this approach, teaching and learning experiences are co-created by students, tutors and subject co-ordinators. The teacher is de-centred, thereby empowering students to be active and valued citizens within their learning community. Thus, students are expected to share their literature informed ideas, thoughts and experiences with their fellow citizens.
Flexible Delivery
The subject will be predominantly delivered face-to-face with the option of online workshops for those who require this mode of tutorial delivery. This is to better cater for students’ request for greater flexibility in their learning and also to be in a position to navigate the continued uncertainty.
Students will be engaged in both Individual Learning as well as Group Learning activities. All students have been timetabled to a fortnightly on-campus OR online tutorial. Based on past experiences, students perform significantly better when they actively participate in workshops and maintain a connection to their learning community.
Individual Learning & Group Learning Activities
There are six modules and six workshops.
Individual Learning is designed to be largely self-guided and flexible so that you study at a time that is optimal for your learning. You will be expected to cover the subject’s content by working through each module in vUWS and prepare for the Group Learning activities.
The Group Learning activities take place during the workshops and are designed to more deeply engage the materials you have worked through during your Individual Learning. Each Group Learning workshop will provide you with the opportunity to move beyond simply ’knowing’ the theory in this subject, towards an applied understanding of the theories in personal, social and professional scenarios.
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In line with the university policy, attendance alone is not sufficient. Rather, you need to actively participate in the Group Learning activities to pass successfully through this subject. This means that you need to come prepared to the workshops - complete the pre-workshop activities, and keep a list of thoughts or questions to discuss in the workshops. Workshops are not lectures and so the assumption is that you come to the Group Learning activities having covered the Individual Learning material, and in a position to apply this knowledge.
To actively participate online, all students must have access to a webcam (or camera on your phone) and microphone. Students MUST have their cameras on. This decision is pedagogically informed and with safety in mind. If this is not possible, you will need to join us in the classroom on campus.
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”Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” ― Malcolm X (1964)
Online Learning Requirements
Subject materials will be made available on the subject’s vUWS (E-Learning) site (https://vuws.westernsydney.edu. au/). You are expected to consult vUWS at least twice a week, as all subject announcements will be made via vUWS. Teaching and learning materials will be regularly updated and posted online by the teaching team.
Special Requirements
Essential Equipment:
Access to a computer and the internet.
Legislative Pre-Requisites:
Not Applicable
1.3 Changes to Subject as a Result of Past Student Feedback
The University values student feedback in order to improve the quality of its educational programs. The feedback provided helps us improve teaching methods and subjects of study. The survey subjects results inform subject content and design, Subject Outlines, teaching methods, assessment processes and teaching materials.
You are welcome to provide feedback that is related to the teaching of this subject. At the end of the semester you will be given the opportunity to complete a Student Feedback on Subject questionnaire to assess the subject. If requested by your subject coordinator, you may also have the opportunity to complete a Student Feedback on Teaching (SFT) questionnaire to provide feedback for individual teaching staff.
As a result of student feedback, the following changes and improvements to this Subject have&nb CULT2005 Ethics in the Social Sciences Spring 2024 sp;recently been made:
– Greater emphasis on the practical application of subject learning to contemporary ethical issues and future professional practice
– The inclusion of intellectual materials to reflect the diversity of non-western and minority scholarship
– The introduction of greater flexibility around tutorial delivery
2 Learning and Teaching Activities
Teaching Weeks | Topic | Activities | Assessment Details | Assessment Due |
Week 1 22-07-2024 | Module One | Module One: Individual Learning | Prepare activities for Workshop 1 (incl. SAQs) |
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Week 2 29-07-2024 | Module One | Module One: Group Learning (Workshop 1) | Start preparation for Poster Assessment Draft reflections on workshop discussions related to SAQs |
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Week 3 05-08-2024 | Module Two | Module Two: Individual Learning | Prepare activities for Workshop 2 (incl. SAQs) |
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Week 4 12-08-2024 | Module Two | Module Two: Group Learning (Workshop 2) | Continue preparation for Poster Assessment Draft reflections on workshop discussions related to SAQs |
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Week 5 19-08-2024 | Module Three | Module Three: Individual Learning | Prepare activities for Workshop 3 (incl. SAQs) Continue work on Poster Assessment |
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| Outcome |
1 | Apply skills in reflexivity to an understanding of everyday lives and social actions. |
2 | Demonstrate how ethics are constructed, understood, and applied in everyday life and in a social structure. |
3 | Identify the significance of key ethical concepts in the context of social justice and social fairness. |
4 | Articulate the connections between historical and philosophical developments in ethics and their applica- tions to contemporary ethical practice. |
The assessment items in this subject are designed to enable you to demonstrate that you have achieved the subject learning outcomes. Completion and submission of all assessment items which have been designated as mandatory or compulsory is essential to receive a passing grade.
To pass this subject you must: achieve an overall grade of 50%
Important note, students do not have to submit all three items of assessment, however they must achieve an overall mark of at least 50% to pass. That is, students need to accumulate enough marks to reach a 50% pass. Please consider the weighing of each assessment task when you are calculating what you need to pass the subject.
If you do not achieve a 50% pass and you have not submitted all of your assessments you shall receive an F grade (Fail)