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. 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. 

EC Relevant Documents

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

• Assessment Information, Readings & Study Guide
• Professional Experience Handbook 
• Professional Experience Guide

EC 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.

EC Professional Experience Unit Academic Expectations 

• In order to be eligible for a passing grade, students must meet the following attendance requirements:
  • Internal Students: Participate in at least 80% of all tutorials – punctuality is expected. Consistent lateness or absence will jeopardise a passing grade
  • External Students: Participate in all on-campus sessions – punctuality is expected. Please note that non-participation will lead to exclusion from the unit. Students who are unable to participate due to illness or other unavoidable disruption will be supported in their application to withdraw without academic penalty.
• Students are required to contribute to all online and tutorials tasks
• Students are expected to read weekly readings before completing tasks and attending tutorials
• Students are expected to listen/attend weekly lectures before completing tasks and attending tutorials
• All assessment tasks must be submitted
• 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

Professional Experience Unit Placement Expectations 

• Students are required to complete 10 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 attendance and 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 may not be able to commence their placement until all alleged academic honesty breaches have been investigated and concluded.
• 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 Unit

If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice by writing to des.ug@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.

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 .doc or .pdf format for submission.
• It is the onus of the student to ensure that all assessments are successfully submitted through turnitin.
• 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.

Extensions:

In extenuating circumstances, students may apply 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:

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

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 (2016).

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

Perrin, R. (2016). Pocket guide to APA style (6th ed.). Boston: Cengage Learning.

Required Textbooks

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

* Arthur, L., Beecher, B., Death, E., Dockett, S. & Farmer, S. (2015). Programming and planning in early childhood settings. (6^th ed.).Victoria: Thomson

Crowther, I. (2016). Creating effective learning environments (4th ed.). Ontario: Nelson Education.

* Note this text is required in ECHP122 and  ECHP222. 

This unit is the first core practicum unit in the B.Ed (Early Childhood Education). If you are not intending to complete this degree, it is strongly advise that you contact the unit coordinator to determine whether this unit is appropriate for your study plan.

This unit has ECH113: Play and Inquiry in Early Childhood, as a pre-requisite. It is therefore assumed that students will incorporate their understanding of the nature, and developmental significance of play and other significant early childhood experiences into both theoretical and practical aspects of this unit.