Knowledge, Learning and Culture

This subject is not offered in 2014.

120 hours. Attendance at all classes (tutorial/seminars/practical classes/lectures/labs/online classes) is obligatory. Failure to attend 80% of classes will normally result in failure in the subject.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.

The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

This subject will focus on the significance of cultural and contextual framings of knowledge and learning. Topics will include; a consideration of sociological, historical, political and cultural influences on knowledge; the analysis of knowledge and thinking from multiple cultural perspectives; novice versus expert representations of a topic; internationalisation and globalisation of knowledge. Students will be encouraged to examine the knowledge they are learning from these perspectives, and identify the implications for their understanding of the ideas. Students will engage with a wide range of cultural expressions through visiting several of the cultural collections in the University of Melbourne, including art works, scientific specimens, artifacts and archives.

The aim of this subject is to lead students to understand
• how knowledge, understanding and learning are influenced by a range of factors; and
• how an awareness of these influences can lead to enhanced understanding and knowledge.

There are two assessment tasks:

A 2,000-word assignment in which students will select objects they are studying and (i) identify the cultural and contextual influences on their interpretation and (ii) alternative interpretations of the knowledge from other influential perspectives, due mid-semester (50 per cent);

A 2,000-word assignment in which students will select cultural collections they are studying and identify (i) how multiple perspectives on a topic lead to greater understanding, (ii) how the topic is shaped by particular factors such as the culture and the point in history in which it is constructed; due in the examination period (50 per cent).

Readings will be provided throughout the semester.

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

This subject will lead students to understand the processes involved in knowledge enhancement and transfer. Topics will include: the notion of creativity and innovation; the evaluation and critical analysis of ideas; the influence of sociological, historical and cultural influences on knowledge enhancement and creativity; novice versus expert representations of a topic; knowledge transfer and creativity. Students will be encouraged throughout to develop this understanding in the context of their tertiary learning and to understand themselves as knowledge enhancers.