Values Walk

Name: Cécile Dutreix

Cécile is not the original author of this idea but has used it effectively in her teaching. The original author is not known.

Field or discipline: Social Work
Program: Bachelor of Social Work
Course: Human Service Provision
Year level: 1
Class size: 25

Activity type: Values Walk

Aim: Explore a range of perspectives in values, including social justice and the implications for services in a multicultural, non-racist and gender sensitive context. Developing graduate qualities 1,2,5 and 6.

Description: Students are asked to reflect on their values and position in relation to the following statements (ie strongly agree to strongly disagree). The students move from one side of the room to the other depending on their position.
· Women should stay at home when their children are young
· Capital punishment should be reintroduced
· Divorce is too easy
· People on the dole are lazy
· Anyone can go to university
· Abortion is wrong
· Teachers should be banned if they are known to be gay or lesbian
· Refugees are queue jumpers
· Children raised in 2 parent families are better off than children raised in single parent families

People may choose to discuss why they took this position (but are not required to if they do not wish to). This generates discussion which leads to increased knowledge and understanding of differing values and beliefs.

Application: This exercise enables students to explore and challenge their own values, prejudices and assumptions. If there is a lack of respect and courtesy within the group, this can disintegrate into argument and personal attacks. Students should be prepared by deciding on group norms prior to this exercise and in particular discussing the need for respect of differing views and beliefs.

Mouse-trap powered cars

Name: Liz Smith

Field or discipline: Engineering
Program: Common first year - Civil, Electrical, Mechanical
Course: Engineering and Design Innovation
Year level: 1
Class size: 180
Activity type: Assignment

Description: Students, working in groups, create an innovative design model and compare their creations with their peers. This year the design brief was to make a car that was made of ordinary objects and propelled by a mouse trap. A public event to test the design and innovations was held in the Experience 1 studio, an informal learning environment for first year engineering students. Students were assessed by interview with a 'scruitineer' on the merits of their creation as well as performance - distance that the car was propelled.

One that had a good run

Scrutinisation of a air-bag design for a mouse-trap car

Application: Community and peer engagement with professional learning

Group Learning Through Role Playing

Name: Dr Sukhbir Sandhu

Field or discipline: Business
Program: Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Business
Course: RUASB
Year level: Post-Graduate
Class size: 20
Activity type: Role Play

Aim: Helping participants understand the constraints of various roles and also in identifying the topic issues.

Description: This task involves two people engaging in a role play. One person plays the role of the CEO and the other as a Risk Officer. The person acting as the risk officer is required to identify two major risks posed by sustainability issues for the organization in the chosen sector. The risk officer then has to make a case of how he/she believes the organization should deal with each of those risks. The other participant acting as the chief executive officer is required to accept one recommendation, reject the other and explain why.
The organization can be chosen from any of the following sectors

• energy
• transport
• resources
• agribusiness
• manufacturing
• real estate
• financial services
• any other sector of particular interest to your group

This activity also helped the participants to understand that group activities can be enjoyable

Application: The co-ordination was initially a challenge, but it addressed the graduate qualities of lifelong learning, working autonomously and collaboratively and effective communication. It also proved to be very engaging and enjoyable.