ENG2002 Technology and Society

Contents

• Staffing
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

SYNOPSIS

Students of engineering and surveying need to understand and be convinced that through their future professional work they will relate to the rest of society. Throughout their careers they will need to strive to ensure that this relationship is meaningful and successful. Only then will they earn respect for themselves and their profession, and ensure their work will be valued and recognised. For engineers and surveyors to meet their responsibilities towards society they must be able to appreciate how politics, culture, economics and the law affect their work and how their work impacts on different sections of the community and the physical environment. They must also be prepared to deal with the issue of long-term sustainability. The goal of this course is to provide students with the opportunity to develop skills and attitudes that would help them promote and defend their work within their profession and within society at large.

OBJECTIVES

The course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. The assessment item(s) that may be used to assess student achievement of an objective are shown in parenthesis. On completion of this course, students should be able to:

1. deduce the causal factors behind technological developments in different cultures and during different periods of human history (Assignment 1, Exam);
2. assess the basis of common criticisms of modern technology (Assignment 1, Exam);
3. determine the relevance of social structure and cultural values to the engineering or surveying professions (Exam);
4. propose strategies that would help professionals to function effectively in a multi-cultural environment (Assignment 2, Exam);
5. illustrate the political dimension of engineering and surveying activities (Assignment 1, Exam);
6. identify ethical and legal constraints that are most likely to concern professional engineers or surveyors (Assignment 2, Exam);
7. identify and discuss conflicts between client and societal expectations (Exam);
8. assess the likely effects of economic policies on technological enterprises (Assignment 2, Exam);
9. examine the basic philosophies behind modern technological management (Exam);
10. justify the need to move towards sustainable practices (Assignment 1, Exam);
11. apply the principles of environmental impact assessment (Exam);
12. recognise the impacts of globalisation on engineering industries (Exam);
13. demonstrate an awareness of the key factors that may influence the practice of engineering in an overseas country (Exam).

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

ENG2002 Technology and society: external study package, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba.

(Students will need access to email and the Internet.)

Johnston, S, Gostelow, P & Jones, E 1999, Engineering and society: an Australian perspective, 2nd edn, Longman, South Melbourne.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Student Administration will advise students of the dates of their examinations during the semester.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. Students do not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to be awarded a passing grade in this course. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without extenuating circumstances then a penalty of 5% of the assigned mark may apply for each working day late up to a maximum of ten working days at which time a mark of zero can be recorded for that assignment.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade in a course a student must obtain at least 50% of the total weighted marks for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   In a Closed Examination, candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the examination period at the end of the semester of the next offering of this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

This version produced 27 May 2008.