ECOTOURISM ONLINE COURSE

External Studies in Ecotourism for Professional Development

Course Structure

Three Ecotourism Modules (Ecotour Management, Bushcraft and Wilderness Skills, Ecotour Tour Guide). -outlines of these three can be seen below

Workplace Project

There are various options for satisfying this.

• Many students will satisfy this option by undertaking work (voluntary or paid) in ecotourism (eg. at a wildlife park) after having completed the three ecotourism modules.
• Some students may undertake Research Project I & II ( structured correspondence courses culminating in production of mini research projects)
• Some may provide evidence of attendance at conferences, other practical courses, or significant work in industry.

To satisfy this requirement, a member of ACS academic staff must assess and approve whatever you do as being a "real world" learning experience that helps you relate what you have studied in the ecotourism modules to the ecotour industry.

Modules

Note that each module in the Qualification - Proficiency Award In Ecotourism is a short course in its own right, and may be studied separately.

MORE OPTIONS FOR 200 hrs of WORKPLACE PROJECT

This is the final requirement that you must satisfy before receiving your award.

There are different options available to you to satisfy this requirement:

Option 1.

If you work in the industry that you have been studying; you may submit a reference from your employer, in an effort to satisfy this industry (ie. workplace project) requirement; on the basis of RPL (ie. recognition for prior learning), achieved through your current and past work experience.

The reference must indicate that you have skills and an awareness of your industry, which is sufficient for you to work in a position of responsibility.

Oprion 2.

Undertake modules "Workshop I and Workshop II"

Workshop I

There are 3 lessons, each involving a PBL project, as follows:

1. Workplace Tools, Equipment and Materials: Identifying and describing the operation of tools and equipment used in the workplace; routine maintenance of tools and equipment; identifying and comparing materials used in the workplace; using different materials to perform workplace tasks.

2. Workplace Skills: Determining key practical skills in the workplace; identifying and comparing commonly-performed workplace tasks; determining acceptable standards for workplace tasks; implementing techniques for improving workplace efficiency.

3. Workplace Safety: Identifying health and safety risks in the workplace; complying with industry WH&S standards; developing safety guidelines for handling dangerous items. for more details click here

Workshop 2

There are three PBL projects in this module

1. Identifying Technical Problems and Collecting Samples or Data: Investigating technical problems in the workplace; collecting and treating samples, data or other evidence.

2. Analytical Procedures: Using specialised technical equipment to analyse samples, data or other evidence; undertaking routine and advanced scientific or technical analyses.

3. Workplace Operations: Describing the operations and equipment of a laboratory or other technical environment. for more details click here

Option 3.

If you do not work in the relevant industry, you need to undertake a project as follows.

Procedure for a Workplace Project

This project is a major part of the course involving the number of hours relevant to the course (see above). Although the course does not contain mandatory work requirements, work experience is seen as highly desirable.

This project is based on applications in the work place and specifically aims to provide the student with the opportunity to apply and integrate skills and knowledge developed through various areas of formal study.

Students will design this project in consultation with a tutor to involve industry based activities in the area of specialized study which they select to follow in the course. The project outcomes may take the form of a written report, folio, visuals or a mixture of forms. Participants with relevant, current or past work experience will be given exemption from this project if they can provide suitable references from employers that show they have already fulfilled the requirements of this project.

For courses that involve more than 100 hours, more than one workplace project topic may be selected. For example, 200 hours may be split into two projects each of 100 hours. This will offer the student better scope to fulfill the needs of their course and to meet the number of hours required. Alternatively, the student may wish to do one large project with a duration of 200 hours.

Students will be assessed on how well they achieve the goals and outcomes they originally set as part of their negotiations with their tutor. During each 100 hours of the project, the students will present three short progress reports. These progress reports will be taken into account when evaluating the final submission. The tutor must be satisfied that the work submitted is original.

Scope of Ecotourism

There are many different types of ecotour developments, ranging from small scale bed and breakfast operations to large eco-resorts. The following list is indicative of the range of ecotourist facilities:
 *Caravan parks
 *Campsites that are specifically built to suit the ecotourist
 *Guest Houses
 *Back packer lodges
 *Huts and cabins
 *Houseboats
 *Farm-stays
 *Self-catering cottages
 *Eco-Resorts
 *Self-drive type vehicles
 *Cruise boats and yachts.

Ecotourism uses the natural environment or culture of a given area as its primary attraction. However the developments may also include additions such as:
 *Toilet facilities
 *Cooking facilities (eg. barbeques)
 *Car-parks
 *Kitchens (communal, communal, self catering or organised)
 *Education and information facilities
 *Signs and maps
 *Walks and pathways, steps etc.
 *Anchorage, jetties or mooring points.

This infrastructure is supplied and maintained by the local authority governing the area.
On private land this is supplied by the owner.

In planning for tourism, always remember:
• Does tourism give your area what it desires in the long term?
• What facilities and attractions can your area offer the tourist?
• What economic and physical capacity does your area have to cater to tourists?

A TOURIST is anyone travelling for either business or pleasure.

Tourists generally are travelling because they are seeking new or different experiences. The tourist will expect to be pampered, rarely giving consideration to the local individual or community which he is visiting; after all, the tourist is on holiday and is paying the bills. However, some tourists are not as focused on their own pleasures and are aware of the local communities they are visiting.

In a natural environment, the tourist can frequently cause damage; hence numbers need to be controlled if natural environments are not going to deteriorate. In a man made environment, the tourist's reaction is equally as predictable, but not necessarily as damaging. The response to a man made environment is generally affected by the quality of that environment. Most evidence indicates that the majority of tourists are looking for quality in their experiences rather than the same type of facilities and attractions repeated over and over, each place similar to the last. The most successful tourist facility is generally the quality facility offering something different, something special, or something better than other places, without sacrificing quality of services.

The tourist industry involves both large and small organisations (e.g. the one-person operated gift shop or the giant resort complex owned by a multi national company as part of a chain of resorts).

The tourist industry requires and employs the services of persons with a variety of different backgrounds including:
• The food industry  cooks, waitresses, dish washers, restaurateurs, fast food salesmen, caterers etc.
• The accommodation industry  motel, hotel, camp ground operators, etc.
• Resorts and Hotels  clerks, cleaners, cooks, entertainers, recreation workers, gardeners, etc.
• Gift Shops, shop assistant.
• Tourist attractions  wilderness parks, amusement parks, museums, zoos, swimming facilities, etc: wildlife carers, park rangers, ride attendants, horticulture workers, teachers, presenters, etc.
• Tour operations  providing guided tours, bus-trips, water-sports tours, bushwalks, shopping tours, night-club tours, etc.

Definition:
Ecotourism is a relatively new word which does not always have a clear definition.  Even though some industry bodies may have adopted a particular definition, it still means very different things to different people. The following is one way of defining it:

ECOTOURISM is the combination of two words ECOLOGY and TOURISM. Ecology relates to the study or understanding of complex relationships in the natural world. Flora, fauna, soils, air, water and yes, even people are just some of the factors involved in interacting with one another. The nature of the relationship can be positive, negative or a combination of these or in rare instances of no consequence whatsoever. Often the longer term effects will not be readily obvious, it is for this reason that management principles are so important in this developing industry. The direction ecotourism takes will be primarily up to the people who are involved at all levels of its implementation. Poor management will result in lost resources and ultimately a failed industry.