Rationale for Modes of Assessment
Practicum – There is a five-day practicum placement linked to this unit. Competency based practicum assessment ensures students can apply in the classroom, the principles and strategies taught in the unit.
Online participation – participation in on-line discussion assists students to develop an understanding of each Topic, provides an opportunity for self and peer assessment and provides a means of regular feedback on academic progress.
Assignments are designed to enable you to reflect more deeply on a particular problem or scenario and to write a considered response.
Assessment quizzes are designed to assess understanding of specific topics.
Grading Procedures
Results for assessments will be reported as grades (i.e., HD, D, Cr, P, F). Where grades are used to report results for assessment components with significant weighting, convenors may also optionally add the suffixes of + (plus) or - (minus) to the generic descriptor in order to provide additional detail. For example:
Pass +
Pass
Pass -
In this case, a “Pass +” would indicate performance in the upper end of the pass range, a grade of “Pass” would indicate a mid-range pass and a “Pass -” would indicate performance at the lower end of the pass range. This principle is applied to all grade descriptors (i.e., HD, D, CR, P, F)
Raw scores for all assessments will be moderated according to the University guidelines so that work judged to be of a given standard is awarded a moderated score within the following distribution: High Distinction 85-100; Distinction 75-84, Credit 65-74; Pass 50-64; Fail 0-49.
For example, if it is judged that the HD standard for a particular assessment is met by work scoring 90-100, raw scores will be adjusted so that students received moderated scores between 85 and 100. This moderation takes into account both the stated performance standards for the assessment component and the degree of difficulty of the specific task.
Assessment Weighting
All assessment tasks must be attempted for students to be eligible for an overall passing grade in the unit. Students who do not attempt all assessment tasks will receive a maximum unit mark of 40 and an overall grade of Fail (F) for the unit.
Students are required to gain an overall pass on the unit, but do not have to pass all assessment components. If you perform poorly on one component, you may compensate for this with a better performance in the other components.
Consistent with the University assessment policy, moderated scores will be used in the calculation of final grades. The final unit score will be the weighted average of the moderated scores for the unit.
Please note there is a requirement to satisfactorily complete FIVE DAYS of practicum for this unit.
Marking Criteria and Performance Descriptors for Assignments
In general, markers will be looking for the following qualities in your assignment:
- Selection of articles relevant to your topic.
- Appropriate justification for article selection.
- Quality of critical analysis
- Evidence of a deep understanding of the research papers selected for annotation.
- A concise and informative summary which accurately reflects the content of the articles selected.
You are encouraged to evaluate your work against these criteria.
Performance Descriptors
High Distinction
There is pervasive address of critical points in all responses and a demonstration of deep understanding of all key principles. There are appropriate and concise justifications, descriptions or analyses integrating relevant information. There is no evidence of consequential gaps in understanding of basic principles and a clear ability to generalise concepts and principles to the most difficult examples.
Distinction
There is extensive address of the critical points in all responses and a demonstration of deep understanding of all key principles. There are appropriate and concise justifications or analyses integrating relevant information. There is no evidence of consequential gaps in understanding of basic
principles, although students may have difficulty in applying some concepts and principles to the most difficult examples.
Credit
There is strong address of the critical points in the vast majority of responses and a deep understanding of the majority of key principles. There are appropriate and concise justifications, descriptions or analyses integrating relevant information. There may be a small number of consequential gaps in understanding of basic principles. Students may have difficulty in applying some concepts and principles to a limited number of examples.
Pass
There is solid address of the critical points in the majority of responses and a demonstration of deep understanding of most key principles. There are appropriate and concise justifications, descriptions and analysis integrating relevant information. Students may have difficulty in applying some concepts and principles to some examples.
Fail
There is poor address of the critical points in the majority of responses. There is little evidence of deep understanding of principles. Justifications, descriptions and analyses would often be incomplete and/ or unclear. Students demonstrate a poor understanding of the majority of concepts and principles and are only able to apply these to a minority of examples.
Resubmission
Students are required to gain an overall pass on the unit, but do not have to pass all assessment components. If you perform poorly on one component, you may compensate for this with an improved performance in the other component(s).
Resubmission of assessments and assignments is not permitted.
Disruption to studies and extensions for assignments
In extenuating circumstances, students may apply to the unit coordinator for an extension to the assignment due date or a later date for completion of an assignment. Reasons for the extension need to be documented through the disruption to study process through ask@mq.edu.au and supported by documentation (e.g., a Professional Authority Form in the case of illness).
Extension will only be granted in receipt of the completed form submitted through askMQ, plus documentation.
Disruptions due to work commitments require a statutory declaration from a work supervisor (eg. School Principal) stating that the work commitment was not known at the time of enrolment.
University Disruption to Studies Policies and Procedures
See the Policies and Procedures section of this unit guide for further details.
Appeals
Appeals against grades for individual assessment components.
If any student has concern about the marking of an assessment, they must:
- Consult the member of staff who marked the work.
- If there is no satisfactory resolution, an appeal should be made in writing to the unit convenor within one week of the marked assessment being returned or of results being made available. The student should explicitly state the basis of the appeal.
The unit convenor will review the marking and may, at their discretion, ask for a re-marking by a second marker. If re-marking by a second marker is judged appropriate, the final mark will normally be the average of the two marks awarded for the assessment task. Students should note that the revised mark for the task may be higher, the same, or lower than the original mark.
Please note that it is MUSEC policy to double mark all failing assessments. The decision of the unit convenor is final.
Appeals against final unit grades
See the Policies and Procedures section for details on appeals against unit grades.
Academic Honesty and Plagiarism
You must read the University's policies and procedures on Academic Honesty. More information can be found in the Policies and Procedures section of this unit guide.
Standardised Transcript Marks
Your overall unit result will be assigned a standardised numerical grade (SNG) on your University transcript. High Distinction grades are assigned a mark between 85 and 100, Distinction grades between 75 and 84, Credit grades between 65 and 74, Pass grades between 50 and 64, Pass Conceded grades between 45 and 49 and Fail grades below 45. For further information, see the Grading Policy.
Fail Grades
Entry into units in the postgraduate coursework program requires a clear pass (i.e., a final unit grade of at least “C” or “P”) in all previously completed SPED units. That is, you will not be granted automatic entry into units if you have failures in previously attempted SPED prefixed units. If you have failing grades on our record (1) you may be allowed to continue at the discretion of the Director of MUSEC (or nominee) with a special approval (waiver), or, (2) You may be required to reattempt the relevant units until a clear pass is obtained.
Students with fail grades MUST seek academic advice before attempting to re-enrol.
Satisfactory Progress
Students are expected to maintain satisfactory progress in a course/program of study. Normally, students will be asked to show cause why their candidature should not be terminated if they fail any unit twice. Further, students may be asked to show cause if they receive more than two failures in a course/program of study.