SLE103 - Ecology and the Environment
Unit details
| Year | 2026 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), CBD* |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| Previously coded as: | SQA101 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Tricia Wevill Trimester 3: Belinda Christie |
| Prerequisite: | Nil |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | SLEM103 |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - on-campus unit enrolment: | Trimester 1: 2 x 1 hour on-campus or online lectures per week (weeks 1-10; 9 x 1 hour on campus, 11 x 1 hour online), 5 x 2 hour practical experience (workshops) per trimester, 1 x 1 hour assessment per trimester (week 11). NIKERI (CBD): |
| Educator-facilitated (scheduled) learning activities - online unit enrolment: | Trimester 3: Online independent and collaborative learning including 22 x 1 hour online (live or pre-recorded) lectures (intensive, 4 days per week, weeks 1-4), 4 x 2 hour online seminars weeks 1-4 (typically Thursday week 1, Tuesday week 2, and Tuesday and Thursday week 4). Students must attend and participate in practical experiences (workshop) and practical experience (field trip) at the Burwood (Melbourne) campus on a scheduled half-day (typically Thursday week 2). |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
Note:*Community Based Delivery (CBD): only for students of the National Indigenous Knowledges, Education, Research and Innovation NIKERI Institute (located at the Waurn Ponds campus) The Trimester 3 offering of this unit has an enrolment deadline. | |
Content
SLE103 introduces students to the science of ecology, investigating relationships between organisms and the environment. In this unit, students will also explore climate change and energy issues. They will learn about the nature of science and the scientific method and how to use a systems framework to investigate environmental issues. This will equip students with the capacity to study key environmental issues such as climate systems and ecological systems and make a difference.
Learning outcomes
| ULO | These are the Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Alignment to Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Explain the processes involved in evidence based scientific enquiry. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Demonstrate, through verbal and written communication, the ability to apply scientific methodology through individual and group tasks. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO3 | Describe the factors that contribute to the patterns of global climate systems. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO4 | Compare the processes involved in obtaining electricity for human use from renewable and non-renewable energy sources. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO5 | Identify the abiotic and biotic components within ecosystems, and explain the interactions between these components. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO6 | Summarise the impacts of loss of biodiversity on environmental systems. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
Assessment
Trimester 1:| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | 50-minute online test | 15% | Week 5 |
| Assessment 2 | Poster, oral presentation, process reflection | 20% | Week 6 |
| Assessment 3 In-class test multiple choice/ multi select questions | 50-minute in-class test | 30% | Week 11 |
| Assessment 4 Written report | Written scientific report (1,500-2,000 words) | 35% | Week 13 |
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment 1 | Oral presentation | 15% | Intensive week 2 |
| Assessment 2 | 1-hour online test | 20% | Intensive week 3 |
| Assessment 3 Written report | Written scientific report (1,500-2,000 words) | 30% | Intensive week 6 |
| Assessment 4 Online test | Timed online test | 35% | Intensive week 7 |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning resource
The texts and reading list for SLE103 can be found via the University Library.
Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)
To fully engage with Deakin's learning experiences, students must be able to access and use internet-connected devices as outlined in computing requirements at Deakin.
To support student success at Deakin, we have a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) learning environment that acknowledges that students and educators bring with them the digital tools they regularly use to complete academic tasks. These tools stay with you beyond the classroom, helping you to keep learning, explore ideas more deeply, and connect with knowledge in ways that matter to you.
Students requiring a loan device should visit our Loan Laptop webpage or students requiring longer-term assistance should visit our Student Financial Assistance webpage.
Unit Fee Information
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study and their study discipline, and your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current Students website.