How to use this site
These materials have been developed for use by university partners in the Tropical Savannas CRC and the Bushfire CRC. These materials may be used by staff in other teaching institutions, only with the explicit permission of both CRCs.
These materials include:
- Introductory website text, diagrams and images
- Links to key internet resources
- Video clips
- Activities – aimed to encourage understanding of topics beyond the introductory text, develop scholarship and research skills, or which test the student’s grasp of underpinning knowledge. Many activities comprise preparatory work for subsequent assessment items
- Assessment items - activities which are recommended as assessment items
Notes for lecturing staff
These materials have been developed for you, to use with your students at your institution. You may choose to use the materials as they are over a 13 week semester. Alternatively you may choose to use selected resources from within these materials to develop a course that is tailored to your needs.
Because these materials have been developed with a number of potential institutions and geographic locations in mind, there are a number of omissions that would normally be included in unit/course materials.
First, there is no reference made to online discussion. However, many of the activities are ideal for online discussion. For example, inviting the students to outline their attitude and opinions about burning in their area would be an interesting and reflective way to commence the course. You will find many other examples of where online discussion may be enlivening. You may wish to establish an online discussion facility which links to the website.
Similarly, there is no reference made to practical activities. However there will undoubtedly be opportunities in your area for students to take part in practical burning studies, which will readily integrate with these materials. In Fire Fundamentals there are brief descriptions of activities that may be readily turned into field or laboratory studies in your area.
Finally, assessment items are recommended. However, you may choose to set other assessment items, or to use additional Activities as assessment items. However, many of the Activities have been developed as stepping stones towards the completion of the recommended assessment items. You may choose to use these as additional assessment items, in order to provide preliminary feed-back on your students' progress.
The unit developers would appreciate you feed-back on these materials. Please send feedback to the development team via savannas@cdu.edu.au, or contact Penny Wurm, Lesley Instone or Kate Parr directly. Your suggestions will be included in a future update of the materials.
Software you will need to use these materials
Acrobat reader is required for accessing links designated as (pdf document). Get Acrobat reader for your version of Windows from the Adobe website.
Quicktime is required to view the video clips. Download Quicktime from the Apple website.
