Innovation Change & Knowledge Transfer

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

To be offered at the Dookie campus of the University as an intensive 5 day (Monday to Friday) teaching block, including lectures, group activities and guest speakers, the week before the start of Semester 2. Single room accommodation, with shared bathroom facilities, and catering available on campus. Residential fees not included in subject tuition fee. (Residential fees subsidised for Bachelor of Agriculture students) For further information, msle-sc@unimelb.edu.au or the Dookie campus 5833 9200

100 hours

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Students will use case studies in agricultural systems to explore how learning and practice change occur in natural resource management and agriculture. The subject will provide students with an understanding of how and why people take up knowledge and information and as well as the impediments to adoption. Students will develop the skills to enable them to generate, acquire, apply and make accessible the knowledge needed to enhance material, human, social and environmental wellbeing.

On completion of this subject students will have developed:

• An understanding of the different ways people learn
• An understanding of the barriers to adoption
• The ability to facilitate groups to assist in developing knowledge and skills
• Techniques in the use of case studies to facilitate learning and practice change

Exam (60 minutes) - approximately during week 9 - 30%

Essay (2,000 words) due approximately during week 4 - 30%,

Group assignment- an oral presentation for 20 minutes and powerpoint submission to the coordinator, due on 17th July - 30%,

Class participation - 10%

Jennings, J., Packham, R. And Woodside, D. (ed.) 2011. Shaping Change: Natural Resource Management, Agriculture and the Role of Extension. Australia: Australiasia-Pacific Extension Network.

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 encompasses particular generic skills. On completion of the subject, students should have the:

• Capacity for independent critical thought, rational inquiry and self-directed learning and research
• Awareness of, and ability to utilise appropriate communication technology and methods for the storage, management and analysis of data
• Capacity for creativity and innovation, through the application of skills and knowledge
• Ability to integrate information across a broad range of disciplines to solve problems in applied situations
• Highly developed written communication skills to allow informed dialogue with individuals and groups from industry, government and the community
• Ability to participate effectively as a member of a team
• Ability to use case study analysis as a basis for learning and initiating practice change
• Ability to plan work, use time effectively and manage small projects