IEC Assessment Presentation & Submission Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when you submit each assignment:

• Please type all assignments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing.

• All assessments must be submitted through turnitin in .pdf format for submission.

• Faculty assignment cover sheets are NOT required for this unit.

Draft Submissions & Turnitin Originality Reports

• Students may use Turnitin’s Originality Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing. This option is available in this unit for Assessment 2 only.  

• Students are strongly encouraged to upload a draft copy of the first assessment to Turnitin at least one week prior to the due date to obtain an Originality Report.

• The Originality Report provides students with a similarity index that may indicate if plagiarism has occurred. Students will be able to make amendments to their drafts prior to their final submission on the due date.

• Generally, one Originality Report is generated every 24 hours up to the due date.

• Originality Reports will not be available for assessments 1 and 3.

When preparing your assignments, it is essential that you note the following:

• Students are responsible for ensuring that the assessment has been submitted through TURNITIN successfully.

• Students are responsible for the content that is submitted for the assessment and will be marked on what has been received.

• Students retain a copy of all assignments before submission, and retain the copy until your final grade for the unit has been received.

• Marks will be deducted if you submit your assessment late (refer to the ‘late assessments’ section below for more details).

• No assessment will be accepted after the date that the assessment has been returned to other students.

• If an assessment is considered to be below passing standard, another staff member on the unit will provide a second opinion. No failed assessment may be re-submitted.

There are changes to requirements for becoming a teacher in the primary school setting. From 2016 students will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy test prior to completing the final placement. Further information can be found: http://www.nswteachers.nsw.edu.au/future-returning-teachers/become-a-teacher/ literacy-and-numeracy-tests/ In response to this, in this unit students are expected to demonstrate a professional standard of English expression in all assessable work which includes correct spelling, punctuation and grammar. Students who fail to meet this criterion will receive a failing grade overall for the particular assessment. Students who are concerned about their literacy skills are strongly urged to seek support via the library http://www.mq.edu.au/on_campus/library/research/researching_your_assignment/#S tudy%20and%20Writing%20Skills and also assistance with study and writing skills: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills

Late Assessments:

A deduction of 5% of the total possible mark allocated for that assessment would be made for each day or part day that the assessment is late, weekends counting as two days. For example, if an assessment is worth 20 marks and you submit it 2 days late, you will have 2 marks (2 x 5% of 20 marks) subtracted from your awarded mark.

Extensions:

In extenuating circumstances, students may apply to the unit coordinator for an extension to the assessment due date. Reasons for the extension need to be documented through the Disruption to Studies form accessible through ask.mq.edu.au under "Disruption" and supported (e.g., a Professional Authority Form must be used in the case of illness). Note that:

• Students MUST speak with the unit coordinator prior to submitting their request through https://ask.mq.edu.au

• Extensions will only be granted in receipt of the completed form submitted through ask.mq.edu.au plus supporting documentation.

• Emails are not appropriate means of extension requests.

• It is essential that you plan ahead and organise your study time effectively. Poor time management is not grounds for an extension.

• In the case of computer malfunction, a draft of your assignment may be requested. Please ensure that you print out a draft regularly, so that it is available for submission on request.

• Extensions are usually not granted on the due date.

IEC Academic Honesty Guidelines:

All assignments should cite and provide full bibliographical details of all material that you have used to inform or support your ideas. At the Institute of Early Childhood, students are required to use the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing procedures. Full details about how to cite and reference correctly can be found in Perrin (2015) and in the IEC Academic Honesty Handbook.

Required text Perrin, R. (2015). Pocket guide to APA style (5th ed.). Wadsworth: Cengage Learning. Grades

Grades:

The final grade a student receives signifies their overall performance in meeting the learning outcomes for the unit. The number assigned to a grade (Standard Numerical Grade or SNG) reflects the extent to which student attainment matches the grade descriptors.

Your raw mark for the unit (i.e., the total of your marks for each assessment item) may not be the same as the SNG which you receive. Results may be scaled to ensure there is a degree of comparability across the university, so that units with the same past performances of their students should achieve similar results. The process of scaling does not change the order of marks among students. A student who receives a higher raw score mark than another will also receive a higher final scaled mark.

Grades will be awarded at the completion of the unit according to the following criteria.

HD High Distinction 85-100%

Provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application as appropriate to the discipline.

D Distinction 75-84%

Provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.

Cr Credit 65-74%

Provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; convincing argumentation with appropriate coherent justification; communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.

P Pass 50-64%

Provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; routine argumentation with acceptable justification; communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes.

F Fail 0-49%

Does not provide evidence of attainment of learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; missing, undeveloped, inappropriate or confusing argumentation; incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.

ECH431 integrates in-class learning tasks (or external equivalent), online activities, independent and group work. Within ECH431 students are encouraged to contribute to the Professional Learning Network within the unit through online posts and sharing work with peers in class.

Classes

Students within ECH431 required to attend classes as outlined by the unit schedule. It should be noted that classes are not conducted in all weeks of semester to enable preparation and engagement in group work. The timetable for internal classes can be found on the University web site at: https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2016/ .

External students will attend 2 compulsory on campus days on the 11th and 12th of April.

Resources

This unit requires students to access online journals and research materials through the Macquarie University Library website. There are no set texts for this unit. Weekly readings are available via iLearn.