Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Koa Webster
E8A 343 (access via 342)
By appointment
Katherine McClellan
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Credit points |
Credit points
3
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
39cp and permission of Executive Dean of Faculty
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
In this unit, students undertake an independent research project under the supervision of one of Macquarie University's marine research staff. The scope of past projects has been broad, with students undertaking a range of data collection methods (such as laboratory experiments, fieldwork, and data synthesis) and producing a range of different research products (such as scientific reports, field guides, and review articles). Although there are no formal classes, students are expected to commit at least 135 hours to their project during the semester, culminating with the submission of a scientific report.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Name | Weighting | Due |
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Risk Assessment | 10% | By arrangement with supervisor |
Research skills checklist | 10% | By arrangement with supervisor |
Research Proposal Seminar | 15% | Week of 4th-8th Jan, 2016 |
Draft Abstract & Introduction | 10% | 8th Jan, 2016 |
Scientific Report | 25% | 29th Jan, 2016 |
Supervisor’s Report | 30% | 1st Feb, 2016 |
Due: By arrangement with supervisor
Weighting: 10%
Chemical safety induction and completion of a chemical safety risk assessment for at least one chemical used in the host laboratory. For research that does not involve use of chemicals, completion of a suitable alternative assessment (also safety-based), by arrangement with the Convenor and supervisor.
Due: By arrangement with supervisor
Weighting: 10%
Demonstration of competence in a 5-item laboratory/field skills checklist.
Due: Week of 4th-8th Jan, 2016
Weighting: 15%
A 10-minute seminar outlining the background to the project and the proposed experimental work.
Due: 8th Jan, 2016
Weighting: 10%
Submit a draft of the Abstract and Introduction sections of your scientific paper (final report).
Due: 29th Jan, 2016
Weighting: 25%
Submission of a scientific paper based on the findings of the research project.
Due: 1st Feb, 2016
Weighting: 30%
Each supervisor will prepare a report evaluating the competency of the student during the research project.
Delivery of the unit
Apart from introductory and final classes/information sessions with the Unit Convenor, there are no formal classes for this unit. Students are to arrange their laboratory or fieldwork hours with their nominated academic supervisor.
Teaching and learning strategy
Projects will be developed under the supervision of a nominated academic supervisor. The assessments in this unit are designed to provide you with skills that are applicable across broad scientific disciplines. The focus in the early part of semester will be on workplace safety, experimental skills and developing a research proposal. All of these are skills required for independent research. Throughout the semester you will also be expected to develop skills and gain knowledge specific to your project area.
Required readings
There are no centrally allocated required readings for this unit. However, your supervisor will recommend journal articles pertinent to your research project. It is expected that you will read widely within your chosen research area, both for your own interest and in order to prepare your scientific paper.
Unit web page
Information and updates regarding the unit will be placed on the unit iLearn page. Please log in on a regular basis.
To access the online unit, go to https://iLearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/ and type in your Macquarie OneID Username and password.
New to iLearn? You can find out more at: http://www.mq.edu.au/iLearn/student_info/
Experiencing difficulties? Visit: http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/
Unit communications
Announcements: General announcements from the Convenor or other teaching staff will be communicated using iLearn.
Discussion board: In order to discuss issues of relevance to all students with the teaching staff, please use the Discussion Board feature of iLearn. The chances are that if you are confused about something in the unit, so are your peers, so it will be useful to share your questions with all.
Email: For matters of a more personal nature, and that do not concern other students (i.e. requests for extensions etc), you should contact the Unit Convener, Koa Webster, by email. Contact details are provided at the start of this document.
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html
Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy.html
Grading Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grading/policy.html
Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html
Grievance Management Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/grievance_management/policy.html
Disruption to Studies Policy http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html The Disruption to Studies Policy is effective from March 3 2014 and replaces the Special Consideration Policy.
In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://informatics.mq.edu.au/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Our graduates will also be capable of creative thinking and of creating knowledge. They will be imaginative and open to experience and capable of innovation at work and in the community. We want them to be engaged in applying their critical, creative thinking.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.
This graduate capability is supported by:
Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.
This graduate capability is supported by:
We want to develop in our students the ability to communicate and convey their views in forms effective with different audiences. We want our graduates to take with them the capability to read, listen, question, gather and evaluate information resources in a variety of formats, assess, write clearly, speak effectively, and to use visual communication and communication technologies as appropriate.
This graduate capability is supported by: