External students must undertake and submit all required elements, and attend all on-campus sessions (OCS) to pass the unit.

Externally enrolled students should pay particular care of activity and assessment deadlines, which vary from deadlines set for internal (Day) enrolled students undertaking the unit. Extensions will not be granted if External students confuse deadlines.

A "Skills Achieved" portfolio certificate will be provided through iLearn as External students achieve skills during the unit. A student's skills portfolio certificate can be used in support of CV building in 3rd year Capstone Units.

Lectorials.

External students should keep up with weekly lectorials that are placed on-line within hours of the presentation being made. All BIOL116 students have access to the weekly 1-hour lectorial through two on-line media:

1. Automated recordings of the Tuesday presented lectorial, registered in ECHO-360. ECHO-360 recordings are available from a direct link on the BIOL116 iLearn website.
2. "Lecture Tool" presentations. All lectorial presentation slides are available after each weekly (Tuesday or Wednesday) delivery, accessible through a direct link on the BIOL116 iLearn portal. Lecture Tools is an interactive presentation format when delivered to internal students who use have electronic devices available to them in the lecture theatre. External students can still access the presentation and quiz questions/class results, take notes on the slides, print both slides and notes, and signal slides that need additional follow up, but can not vote nor respond to interactive in-class delivered quiz/questions. 

Tutorials.

External students will be allocated to "external on-line tutorial groups" in Week 1, with an on-line 1 hour Tutorial Tutor contact on either Wednesday or Thursday evenings (provisionally envisioned for 7 - 8pm). We aim to have most tutorial activities on-line or delivered during on-campus sessions (OCS). Tutorials are formulated around both independent and team activities that focus on problem solving and development of resource inquiry and writing skills. Access to the internet and the use of spreadsheet software (e.g. Excel (TM)) is assumed. External students should refer to the External Students Activity Submission Timetable below to ensure that they undertake tutorial activities by the correct due date. 

On-campus sessions (practicals).

External students have FOUR COMPULSORY on-campus sessions to attend. OCS are an intense and stimulating blend of tutorial, practical and field work activities and will also include assessments such as skill tests, student presentations and formal examinations. As the unit is focused on a student's handling of basic equipment in the lab/field, and development of technical and analytical skills, students will be expected to maintain an e-prac book during their OCS sessions. During the mid-term and the final exams the e-prac book will be assessed against set criteria that cover the completeness of activities and adherence to expected conventions described in class. The e-prac book will be assessed after students have undertaken their mid-term and final practical exams.

The table below outlines the provisional OCS activities that are planned for each session.

External students should also take due note of the following:

• External students MUST WEAR ENCLOSED FOOTWARE to all practical sessions.

• Lab coats are not compulsory but are encouraged. In the event a lab coat is required for any activity external students will be informed in advance and have the opportunity to purchase a disposable lab apron (~$2) in class should they not have a lab coat.

• All other personal protection such as gloves and safety glasses will be supplied as required by our approved risk assessment procedures.

• There are no dissections of animals in BIOL116, however, we do handle insects and take the ethical handling of all organisms very seriously.

• Students that have a medically-assessed allergy to gloves (latex, plastics, nitrile), pollen or crustaceans, or have a disability should make staff aware in advance so that alternative equipment and activities for certain practicals can be prepared in advance to ensure completion of the unit. Contact: biol116@mq.edu.au and in the subject line use the flag: Confidential Prac Allergy Notification - External.

• Failure to attend set OCS will result in automatic failure of the unit, as alternative on-campus catch-up sessions are not possible. Externally-enrolled students cannot attend Internal (Day) offered practical classes due to the lack of class space and University Workplace Health and Safety regulations.

Exams.

External students have two practical exams. The first on the morning of the third on-campus session and the second in the official exam period of semester 1. Practical exams will cover the following:

• OCS 3  (Wednesday 13th April, 2016). The mid-term practical exam will cover Lectorial, Tutorial, Pre-prac activities and Practical experiences or material covered up to an inclusive of the first 2 OCS. External students will be tested on equipment use or will need to answer technique or analytical questions at ~6 stations.

• Semester 1 Exam Session (TBA between 13 - 27th June, 2016).  The final practical exam will cover Lectorial, Tutorial, Pre-prac activities, and Practical material or experiences across the whole semester.  External students will be tested on equipment use or will need to answer technique or analytical questions at ~8 stations.

• At the end of the exam stations for both the mid-term and final practical exams, students will show their on-line e-prac book to a separate marker for grading against 5 criteria that cover the completeness of class activities and adherence to expected lab note book conventions.

2015: This is the first year that BIOL116 has been offered both Internally (Day) and Externally.