Immersion Units 2003

St. Joseph's College
Gregory Terrace

The six units being offered in 2003 are listed below. Please note that this is the final selection after ten units were originally put forward to students.

RE Service Unit:
Social Justice Experience and Practical Assistance through Building Projects

Key Teacher(s): Anthony Ryan, Br Damien Price
Key Learning Areas: Religious Education, Economics, Geography, History, Life Skills

This unit will involve students in a social justice experience that has practical applications. It will provide students with an opportunity to "do something" to respond to the injustices around them and to attend to the needs of others. Our aim will be to help the students understand that the point of service is not just what changes as a result of one's efforts but the change in one's self that matters. Students will work with a number of social justice organizations in close proximity to Gregory Terrace and will be challenged to move from an observational to a relational approach with those people that find themselves on the margins of our society. This unit will respond to the challenges of our time and how they relate to adolescent male psychology. There is a sense that, as Catholics, we have a crisis of identity, of meaning and of purpose. How do we respond and remain faithful to our traditions? Our role models need to be St Joseph as Husband and Father; Jesus as Prophet, man of social action and as revelation and Edmund Rice as a man of faith and learning. We need to ask how men of faith and learning can avoid disappearing into a culture of materialism and consumerism.

Approximate Cost: $150

Studies of Asia (JAPAN): A Point of Comparison

Key Teacher(s): Elizabeth Moran
Key Learning Areas: SOSE, Language Arts - LOTE, Information Technology, Creative Arts, Religion

The Japan immersion unit is aimed at arming students with the multi-skills of adaptability, a capacity to understand culture and the ability to deal with differences between cultures. This unit is designed to introduce students to cultural, historical, social, economic and political aspects of Japan. An encounter with a new culture, different ways of thinking, other systems for behaving and speaking, different values and lifestyles forces us to reassess the world and our place in it. Hopefully, the young people who have the opportunity to think about culture and society through experiencing another lifestyle will become the ambassadors who promote peace and goodwill in the future. Students will be involved in research activities, keeping a diary, using realia and photographs to create a power-point presentation to be delivered to parents and teachers in GT125 Theatre on a date to be advised. Students and parents will also be required to attend approximately three evening meetings in the weeks prior to departure for organisational purposes. Families involved in this unit will be strongly encouraged to volunteer as host families for Konan students visiting in August to strengthen the link between individuals, families and schools.

Approximate Cost: $2900- dependent on student numbers and the exchange rate.

Outdoor Education

Key Teacher(s): Jon Hodges, Jenny Vran, Innes Larkin
Key Learning Areas: Philosophical thinking, Questioning

Students will be based at Maroon for this unit, which will challenge them in ways traditionally and non-traditionally associated with outdoor education. They will complete various parts of the program at Mt Barney National Park, the Nymboida or Clarence River and Mt French National Park. Students will:

- read a 400 page novel - discuss a short history of philosophical thought in the context of current events- develop a personal philosophy - identify fauna and flora- interpret an environment to develop an understanding of environmental relationships.- interpret the direction of forces in simple systems- apply principles of mechanical advantage using pullies, moments and vector forces- plan a menu, pack ingredients and manage food and cooking for extended periods. - apply a variety of knots and use mechanical advantage - apply basic risk management principles to minimise risks- apply basic life support principles for accident / incident management, and management of minor injuries.- research written sources to analyse hazards in a particular activity environment and apply the knowledge in a practical setting- explore a river environment in a canoe or kayak, or climbing environment applying correct rope work, belaying and other safety techniques.

Approximate Cost: $300

Key Teacher(s): Human Movement Faculty Staff
Key Learning Areas: Health and Physical Education, SOSE, Technology

Sport in Australia is big business. Australia's Sport and Recreation sector involves over 11,000 businesses and produced goods and services valued at around $12 billion. This sector contributed at least 1.2 per cent to the nation's gross domestic product (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1997). This statement will underpin our investigation into Sport as a business. This unit will allow students to experience all aspects of modern sport, from the life of an elite athlete, through to the CEO of a major sporting franchise. Students will choose to investigate the roles of the myriad of support structures for the elite athlete and sporting teams, from Sports Medicine and Physiotherapy through to business manager and player agent. Areas of sport to be investigated:
Advertising, Coaching, Sports Psychology, Sports Journalism, PE Teacher, Statistician, Administrator, Media, Elite Athlete, Personal trainer, Nutritionist, Agent, Business Manager, Sponsorship, Marketing, Physiotherapy, Sports Medicine, Merchandising, Development Officer, Sports Scientist, Video Analysis.

The group will be asked to launch a new sporting team in Brisbane. Students, as part of the launch, will discuss the role their chosen area, will have in the new organization.

This unit aims to:
· Provide students the opportunity to investigate and experience the structure of sport and recreation in SE Queensland.
· Allow students to work together and co-operate as a team to complete complex tasks
· Allow students to investigate and report on their chosen area of interest in sport as a business.
· Allow students to become 'educated spectators' through their experience of how business influences sport.
· Involve elite athletes, coaches, associated professionals and administrators in the delivery of learning experiences within the unit.
· Allow students to experience various training methodology and design and implement a fitness program to meet personal goals.

Approximate Cost: $150

Key Teacher(s): Peter Whitehouse, Michael Dezuanni
Key Learning Areas:

The unit will aim to provide students with the opportunity to learn about the video gaming industry from practical, philosophical, social and economic positions. On a practical level, they will have the opportunity to complete a Queensland and Northern Territory Multimedia (QANTM) short course in animation (for video games design), for which they will receive a Vocational Education Certificate Level III. On a philosophical level, they will explore a range of issues that relate to video games, including the violence debate, the role of games in leisure and the role video games play in the formation o f culture. From a social and economic perspective, they will learn about the gaming industry, the role games play in the economy and career opportunities. This will be challenging unit that involves students in a range of learning experiences. They will develop skills related to creativity by applying the conventions of video game design. They will also complete a certain amount of programming and utilisation of sophisticated software packages. Their skills of critical thinking will be developed as they consider the cultural, social and economic impact of video games.

Approximate cost: $650

Business Minds 2003 - An ABW program in business education

Key Teacher(s): Therese Kotzas, Rod Patch, Marie Previte
Key Learning Areas: Accounting, Business Studies, Legal Studies, Economics

This unit will run over a three-week period and will actively involve students in running a simulated multi-million dollar company for a two-week period with the help of a business mentor. The first week will involve an introductory phase into the world of business including terminology, environments, processes and expectations. This phase will be delivered through a number of workshops, guest speakers and QUT lecturers. Involvement in this unit will allow students to discover the variety of skills needed to run a successful business. They will learn to co-operate as a team to complete complex tasks and be exposed to the senior subject areas of Accounting, Business Studies, Legal Studies and Economics. This unit will culminate in presentations by each company in the form of a written and oral report, trade display, and a 30 second video to promote the new product.

Approximate cost: $150