Family and Children’s Records at IEC

Some assessment tasks require students to submit records about families and about children and their learning. It is expected that the records submitted are original, authentic, adheres to the ethical practices of the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics (2006) and is the work of the student. Issues with the authenticity of such records will be investigated for possible forgery (see Fabrication in the IEC Academic Honesty Handbook). Please note that submitted records can only be used once for assessment purposes.

Confidentiality

Students must respect the need for sensitivity and confidentially and ensure that privacy obligations are met. There should be nothing in assessment submissions that identifies a centre or school. Use only the first name for children, parents and staff. Do not record details that enable identification of the site, and of the adults or children. 

IEC Relevant Documents

The information in this Unit Guide must be read in conjunction with the following documents available for download from iLearn:

• IEC Academic Honesty Handbook
• Assessments, Readings & Study Guide
• IEC Professional Experience Handbook 
• Professional Experience Guidel

IEC Electronic Communication

During semester time, staff may contact students using the following ways:

• Dialogue function on iLearn
• Official MQ Student Email Address

It is the student’s responsibility to check all electronic communication on a regular weekly basis.

IEC Professional Experience Unit Academic Expectations 

• Students are required to contribute to all online tasks
• Students are expected to read weekly readings before completing online tasks
• Students are expected to listen to weekly lectures before completing online tasks
• All assessment tasks must be submitted
• Participation at all online meetings are compulsory
• Feedback from Tertiary Supervisors and/or Supervising Teachers is of a general nature. It is incumbent on the student to check the requirements of assessments against the marking criteria and unit outcomes prior to submission.
• In order to meet all expectations for this unit, students must:
  • attain an overall minimum of a Pass grade for the written submission components, AND
  • attain a ‘Satisfactory’ grade for their Professional Experience Evaluation Report

IEC Professional Experience Unit Placement Expectations 

• Students are required to complete 20 days of Professional Experience at an early childhood centre for children aged birth-5
• To be eligible to commence the block placement component of this unit, students
  • Must have submitted all written assessment tasks and/or associated unit component requirements prior to the commencement of the block
  • Must meet the participation requirements for the unit
• Students must be able to present evidence of completion of the following prior to semester census date in order to receive a placement for Professional Experience:
  • A Working with Children Check or State/ Territory equivalent
• Students are expected to negotiate with the supervising teacher to complete five (6) observation days prior to the block
• Feedback from Tertiary Supervisors and/or Supervising Teachers is of a general nature. It is incumbent on the student to check the requirements of assessments against the marking criteria and unit outcomes prior to submission.
• In order to meet the Professional Experience placement expectations of this unit, students must:
  • attain a ‘Satisfactory’ grade for their Professional Experience Practical Work in their Evaluation Report, AND
  • attain a ‘Satisfactory’ grade for their Professional Experience Folder in their Evaluation Report

Withdrawing from this PG Unit

If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice by writing to pg.educ_iec@mq.edu.au before doing so as this unit may be a prerequisite for units in the following semesters and may impact on your progression through the degree.

IEC Assessment Presentation & Submission Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when you submit each assignment:

• Allow a left and right-hand margin of at least 2cm in all assignments.
• Please type all assignments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing.
• All assessments must be submitted through turnitin in .doc or .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.
• Students are strongly encouraged to upload a draft copy of each 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.

When preparing your assignments, it is essential that:

• Students must retain a copy of all assignments before submission, and retain the copy until your final grade for the subject has been received;
• Marks will be deducted if you submit your assessment late (refer to the ‘late assessments’ section below for more details);
• Unless there are exceptional circumstances, 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.

Final Submissions

• Students are responsible for checking that their submission has been successful and has been submitted by the due date and time.
• Late submissions due to last minute technical difficulties will incur a lateness penalty

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 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.

OUA 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 supported with documentation such as a doctor’s certificate in the case of illness. Please keep copies of any original documents, as they may be requested in the future as part of the assessment process. Request an extension by contacting the unit coordinator through the Dialogue function on iLearn. Note that:

• 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.
• Depending on the circumstances, it may be necessary to consider withdrawal from a unit and, in this instance, OUA’s ‘Special Circumstances’ processes are then implemented.

OUA Special Circumstances Process:

Special Circumstances refers to late withdrawal from a unit and your request to have your circumstances taken into account for a possible refund of fees and removal of a “fail” result.

Applications for Special Circumstances are to be submitted to Open University Australia directly.

https://www.open.edu.au/public/student-admin-and-support/student-support-services/special-circumstances

OUA will assess the application for a refund of fees and then send it to the University to assess against Macquarie policy in regard to the change of grade, then notify the student. The Unit Convener’s advice regarding the student’s performance in the unit is taken into consideration in the decision-making. If more than one unit is involved, the IEC’s OUA Program Coordinator for the MTeach(Birth to Five Years), will also be consulted.

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.

The following guide can be purchased from the Co-op Bookshop. This is a required text: 

Perrin, R. (2015). Pocket guide to APA style (5th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

Required Textbooks

These texts can be purchased from the Co-op Bookshop on campus or http://www.coop.com.au

Greenman, J., Stonehouse, A., & Schweikert, G. (2008). Prime times: A handbook for excellence in infant and toddler programs (2nd ed.). St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.

MacNaughton, G., & Williams, G. (2009). Techniques for teaching young children: Choices in theory and practice. (3^rd ed.). NSW: Pearson Education.

Perrin, R. (2015). Pocket guide to APA style (5th ed.). Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.

This eTextbook can be purchased from Mia Mia Child & Family Study Centre. Please complete the order form located at http://iec.mq.edu.au/research/mia_mia/publications_and_resources/ and email to e-press.miamia@mq.edu.au to place your order.

Mia Mia Child & Family Study Centre. (2014). Play and materials for children birth to two years. Sydney: Macquarie University.