Online Participation

Due: 13.11.2017

Weighting: 15%

Online participation involves making posts on the Topics Discussion Forums of the unit website. Once a post is made in a topic Discussion Forum, anybody in the unit can read or respond to it. Staff will post questions periodically or you may ask your own questions, give answers or offer comment. Only posts to Topic Forums will be counted.

Online participation allows you to give feedback and receive feedback from other students and staff, to explore issues in discussion with other students and staff and to practice required skill competencies.

When can I contribute?

Topic discussion forums will close progressively through the semester. All forums will close at 11.55pm.

The content of each forum will remain accessible, but no further posts can be made after the closing date.

Closing Dates for Discussion Forums 

Topic                                            Closing Date

Topic 1                                           14th August

Topic 2                                            21st  August

Topic 3                                             28th August

Topic 4                                             4th September

Topic 5                                             11th September

Topic 6                                              9th October

Topic 7                                              16th October

Topic 8                                               23rd October

Topic 9                                               6th November

Topic 10                                             13th November

How much do I have to contribute?

Each student is expected to make a minimum of ten (10 ) contributions to the topic discussions over the course of the semester.

You should post in at least eight of the ten topics

Instructions on how to compile and submit posts will be provided on the iLearn website. If you fail to submit your compiled posts by the due date, you will be subject to 5% penalty of the total mark per day late up to a maximum of ten days.

Do discussion posts count towards assessment?

Yes. Discussion contributions are weighted at 0.15 of your final grade. Only contributions to Topic Forums are counted, social posts and general questions and comments do not count towards your assessment. If you make fewer than ten posts to topic forums, your maximum possible mark will correspond to the number of posts made.

If you fail to submit your compiled posts by the due date, you will be subject to 5% penalty of the total mark per day late, up tp a maximum of 10 days.

How do I know my submission was successful?

There are two options for you to see your uploaded Assignments/Post compilations.

1. Return to the Assignment activity submission point where the uploaded file will be viewable.

2. If the Activities block is available for the unit, click on the Assignments link. All Assignment activities, including those that are ‘already open’ and ‘closed’, will be viewable here.

Students should print a copy of one of these screens after submission. No claims regarding missing post compilation submissions will be considered under any circumstances without a copy of this printout.

What happens if I do not submit my compilation by the due date?

Post compilations received after the due date will be accepted provided they are received no later than

five working days late. No compilations will be accepted after this time, except when an extension has

been applied for before the due date and granted. After the due date (unless an extension has been

granted) a late penalty will be applied, leading to a reduction in the awarded mark. The late penalty is

5% of the total mark for each day the compilation is outstanding beyond the due date up to a maximum of 10 days. These

penalties are imposed in fairness to students who submit compilations on time.

How do I get an extension?

Please see the "General Assessment Information" for details on how to apply for an extension.

Assignment

Due: 30.10.2017

Weighting: 60%

Assignment information will be available from the Unit website from Monday 31st July, 2017 and will be due Monday 30th Oct 2017 11.55pm, either Australian Eastern Standard Time or Australian Eastern Daylight Saving time (whichever is applicable). The Assignment should be submitted on the iLearn website as a Word or pdf file with the completed MUSEC coversheet (see the Assessment section on the web site).

HOW DO I CHOSE A TOPIC?

Choose a topic or a question to investigate from the two broad areas below.

If you are unsure that your topic fits within the guidelines, please contact the unit convenor to discuss your options.

1. Any controversial intervention or assessment strategy used in special education (apart from those specifically covered in the unit). This topic could include interventions and assessments marketed to parents and teachers through the internet or other media.

2. Any specific intervention or assessment strategy that has shown to be effective or promising for students with special education needs (apart from those specifically addressed in this unit). Topics here should be specific , and not more generic practices such as explicit instruction or functional assessment.

Sample topics or questions: Effective strategies to teach handwriting to students who are having difficulty. Effective strategies to improve the vocabulary of students with special education needs. What are the benefits of inclusion for students with high support needs? Is there a research base for the claims made for XXXX intervention strategy? (insert the name of the particular strategy of interest).

 HOW DO I FIND JOURNAL ARTICLES?

Conduct a search of the literature on your topic or question (1990 - Present) using Google Scholar and/or one or more of the databases available through the library.

In some cases it may be appropriate to include literature older than 1990. Please consult your convenor for guidance.

Information about using the library databases to locate journal articles is available at 

http://infoskills.mq.edu.au/index.html    

WHAT ARTICLES DO I INCLUDE IN MY BIBLIOGRAPHY?

a. From your search results, select 10 (ten) journal articles relevant to your chosen topic. You should choose the most salient and relevant articles for your selected topic. Articles must be experimental studies or literature reviews (not descriptive studies).

b. Provide the full reference (in APA style) and a copy of the abstract for each article. These are to be submitted as part of this assessment task.

Sites providing information about APA style (for providing references ) are at http://www.library.mq.edu.au/on_campus/library/research/referencing

You may also consult the APA manual (6th edition). American Psychological Association. (2009).Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.) Washington, DC: Author

c. For each article, state in two sentences or less why you have selected it and its relevance to your selected topic.

d. Select the five articles you believe are most salient to your topic.

HOW DO I PREPARE THE ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY?

Prepare an annotated bibliography (using the five most salient articles). Each annotation should be a maximum of 300 words in length and should describe and critically evaluate the article. Provide the exact word count at the end of each annotation. The purpose of the annotation is to summarise the article content and to provide an evaluation of the content in relation to your topic or question.

HOW DO I PREPARE THE BRIEFING SUMMARY?

Write a one page summary of the main research findings, using the format and headings of a MUSEC Briefing. The summary should be easily understood by an intelligent parent or classroom teacher. To make it easier to understand do not cite references in the summary. It should stand alone and should synthesise the findings of the annotated bibliography.

The template for the Briefing can be downloaded from the unit website in the Assessment section.

MUSEC Briefings as examples are available at

http://www.musec.mq.edu.au/community_outreach/musec_briefings

WHAT DO I SUBMIT FOR ASSESSMENT/ WHAT ARE THE COMPONENTS?

The full references (in correct APA format) and abstracts of ten journal articles relevant to your topic.

A two sentence justification for the selection of each of the ten articles.

An annotated bibliography of FIVE of your articles.

A briefing presenting your findings to teachers and parents. 

What is required for the Assignment?

​In general good presentation, correct grammar, spelling and appropriate word choice will be expected. Express your ideas concisely and clearly, and observe any stated word limits. Please use single spacing.

HOW DO I SUBMIT MY ASSESSMENT?

You will submit your assignment through the iLearn website. Detailed instructions will be provided on the website.

You should follow the detailed instructions carefully. Marks  (up to 5% of the total mark) may be deducted, for example, for failing to name submitted files correctly or for failing to write your name on the assignment.

                                                     KEEP A COPY OF YOUR ASSIGNMENT

 HOW DO I USE THE ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET?

A cover sheet for your assessment task is available electronically from the unit web site in the Assessment section. Note that the checklist on the assignment COVER SHEET must be completed and signed before an assignment is accepted. You may complete by hand and submit a scanned copy with your assessment task. You may also complete it electronically and type your student number in lieu of a signature.

Can I submit a late assignment?

Assignments received after the due date will be accepted provided they are received no later than 10 calendar days late. Note that this is a period of grace, not a new deadline, and extension requests for events after the original due date will not be considered. No assignment will be accepted after 10 days, except when an extension has been applied for before the due date and granted. After the due date (unless an extension has been granted) a late penalty is 5% of the total mark for each calendar day the assignment is outstanding beyond the due date. These penalties are imposed in fairness to students who submit assignments on time.

What if My Hard Disk Crashed, My Pet Hippopotamus Ate My Computer, etc?

Computer problems will not be accepted as reasons for extensions. You are responsible for making sure your work is adequately backed up. Make sure your work is regularly backed up on a USB drive or to a cloud-based backup and don't leave your submission to the last minute. Always keep your hippopotamus and computer in separate rooms.

What if I Accidentally Submit a Blank Assignment, the Wrong Document, etc?

We can only mark what you submit. Make sure you re-download your assignment from the location that it was submitted and verify the correct document has been submitted. No consideration will be offered if you submit the incorrect document. 

How do I know my assignment submission was successful?

Staff will NOT respond to requests to confirm that assignments have been correctly submitted. You will receive an emailed receipt on successful submission of your assignment in your student email account. Make sure that this has been received and retain this receipt. No claims will be considered regarding missing assignments without this receipt. You can also re-download your assignment to double-check it was submitted (see above). Always keep a copy of your assignment.

Assignment extensions and late penalties

Applications for extensions must be made via AskMQ at https://ask.mq.edu.au as a "Disruption to Studies" request before the submission date. Students who experience a disruption to their studies through ill-health or misadventure are able to apply for this request. Extensions can only be granted if they meet the Disruption to Studies policy and are submitted via ask.mq.edu.au. This will ensure consistency in the consideration of such requests is maintained. If the request meets the Disruption to Studies requirements, the request will be approved by the Faculty Student Support team.

Students are then required to attach their email approval of the extension to their assignment when they submit it.

In general, there should be no need for extensions except through illness or misadventure that would be categorised as unavoidable disruption according to the University definition of same, and currently available at: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special- consideration/disruption-to-studies

Late submissions without extension will receive a penalty of 5% reduction of the total possible mark for each day late (including weekends and public holidays). You are reminded that submitting even just 1 day late could be the difference between passing and failing a unit. Late penalties are applied by unit convenors or their delegates after tasks are assessed.

No assessable work will be accepted after the return/release of marked work on the same topic. If a student is still permitted to submit on the basis of unavoidable disruption, an alternative topic may be set.

Students should keep an electronic file of all assessments. Claims regarding "lost" assessments cannot be made if the file cannot be produced. It is also advisable to keep an electronic file of all drafts and the final submission on a USB untouched/unopened after submission. This can be used to demonstrate easily that the assessment has not been amended after the submission date.

What if I exceed the word limit or sentence limits? What if I submit more than the required number of articles?

Components of answers beyond the stated word limit will not be marked. That is, answers will only be marked up to the stated word limit. Answers will only be marked up to the stated sentence limit. Only the stated number of articles will be marked.

When is the deadline for submission?

The deadline is 11:59 pm on the due date. Note that this means you must submit BEFORE 11:59 pm. Note that it takes time to upload your assignment to Turnitin. This is normally quite quick but will depend on the speed of your internet connection at the time. The submission time is the time that assignment is recorded as received by Turnitin as we can not verify the time you started uploading. You need to allow time for the upload. Do not leave submission of your assignment to the last hours (or minutes).

What if my assignment is only 11 seconds late?

Late is late. Any submission after the deadline will be considered late. Do not leave submission of your assignment to the last hours (or minutes).

How will I get feedback on my assignment?

Individual feedback will provided through the iLearn site. Assignment marks will be available in GRADES. 

C​an I resubmit an unsatisfactory assignment?

Resubmission of unsatisfactory assignments is not permitted.

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.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO CONSIDER?

Use the template supplied for the briefing summary.

CAN I CHANGE THE BRIEFING SUMMARY TEMPLATE?

No. If you change the briefing summary template, it will result in a reduction in your mark.

Assignment Rubric

In general, markers will be looking for the following qualities in your responses to the questions in the assignment.

• Effective communication of key concepts and understanding
• Appropriate critical analysis and justification where required
• Quality of critical analysis of research in special education
• Evidence of a deep understanding of the range of factors underpinning assessment and intervention
• Development of a 'briefing' showing evidence of critical analysis of an intervention.

Quizzes

Due: Dates nominated in schedule

Weighting: 25%

ASSESSMENT QUIZZES

WHAT ARE ASSESSMENT QUIZZES?

Assessment quizzes are online assessments in multiple-choice format. There is one quiz for each topic in the unit. Each Assessment quiz will be open for FOUR DAYS -Friday to Monday. See the Open dates in the Unit Schedule. Assessment quizzes are located on the iLearn page, the section called Assessment.

HOW DO I DO ASSESSMENT QUIZZES?

The quizzes may be taken by logging on to the unit website and scrolling down to the ASSESSMENT section. Click on the link to the quiz that you need to complete.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DOING AN ONLINE QUIZ. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

A "dummy quiz" has been set up to give you some practice and allow you to get used to the quiz module. You may attempt the dummy quiz as many times as you like and will receive "dummy" feedback. It is strongly recommended that every student attempt the dummy quiz each semester. The dummy quiz is in the "Start here! IMPORTANT INFORMATION" section. The dummy quiz is under the headings "THINGS YOU SHOULD DO" AND "Attempt the Dummy Quiz". Click on the link to open the quiz.

HOW DO I KNOW MY ATTEMPT AT A QUIZ HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL?

You will receive confirmation that your quiz has been submitted. Your mark will not be available in "Grades" until after the quiz has been closed on Monday night. The unit convenor will send an announcement when the scores have been released, typically it will be the following day, sometimes longer.

HOW DO I GET FEEDBACK?

Since the quizzes contribute to your formal assessment specific feedback will not be given.

HOW MANY TIMES MAY I ATTEMPT A QUIZ?

 Since quiz marks contribute to your final grade, you may attempt each assessment quiz ONLY ONCE. Be sure you are ready to complete the quiz before you open it. Once you open the quiz, you must complete it.

CAN I REVISE A QUIZ AFTER IT HAS CLOSED?

No, the quizzes are deliberately only open for a fixed window of time to encourage students to stay on track with topic coverage. Consequently, once closed they will not be reopened.

DO THE ASSESSMENT QUIZZES COUNT TOWARD ASSESSMENT?

Yes, assessment quizzes are weighted at 0.25 of your final grade.

WHAT IS EACH QUIZ WORTH?

There are 10 assessment quizzes and each quiz is weighted evenly.

WHAT IF I CAN'T ACCESS THE QUIZ OR IT WON'T WORK CORRECTLY?

Such problems are ALMOST ALWAYS RELATED TO USING AN INCORRECT BROWSER. Firefox is the recommended Browser for iLearn.

WHAT IF I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ACCESS TO THE WEBSITE?

It is YOUR responsibility to ensure that each quiz is completed within the window of time allowable. If your Internet connection is not very reliable, it is strongly suggested that you do not leave the quiz until the last minute. If you lose your connection during a quiz, you should attempt to reconnect as soon as possible and finish the quiz. DON'T LEAVE IT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. There will be no allowances for students who do not complete quizzes on time due to Internet access problems.

WHEN DO I DO ASSESSMENT QUIZZES?

They must be completed within the period that each topic is open. Quizzes close at 11.55pm on a Monday, either Australian Eastern Time or Australian Eastern Daylight Saving Time (whichever is applicable). The exact closing dates may be found in the Topic Assessment Quizzes section of this guide. Please note that Assessment quizzes are only available for limited time and this window will not be extended. Each Assessment quiz will be open for FOUR days-Friday to Monday. Make sure you put these deadlines in your diary.

IS THERE A TIME LIMIT ON EACH QUIZ?

There is a time limit of 15 minutes to complete each quiz. You must submit the quiz within the time limit or your submission will be rejected. It is important to note that as soon as you open a quiz, the time clock starts. DO NOT open a quiz before you are ready to attempt it.

WHAT IF THE WEBSITE BECOMES UNAVAILABLE?

At times the iLearn sites will not be available due to routine maintenance. These dates and times are advertised well in advance in the Announcements section of the log in page and you will also be notified through your student email. Updates and notices are available at http://students.mq.edu.au/home and at http://informatics.mq.edu.au/informatics_news

You should take these times into account as you plan your work. Extra open time for Quizzes will NOT be provided for advertised outages.

If iLearn becomes unavailable unexpectedly for any length of time due to other causes, the cut-off dates for Assessment Quizzes may be extended by the equivalent time.

Practicum

Due: 10th November, 2017

Weighting: 0%

The purpose of the supervised Practicum is to allow for systematic and first-hand observation of a student teacher’s teaching competencies. Students are expected to teach and manage a class/small group from day 3 onward. Supervising teachers will make one formal observation each day using the protocol provided in the Practicum Handbook to evaluate your competencies in lesson planning and presentation, monitoring learning, providing feedback, delivering reinforcement and managing the class or group. Students are responsible for forwarding all the required documentation to the Prac. Supervisor. Email at des.pe@mq.edu.au

What happens if my practicum is unsatisfactory?

Student who are found to be unnsatisfactory during their placement, may be offered the opportunity of additional time or an additional placement in order to reach a satisfactory standard.

What is unsupervised practicum?

During unsupervised practicum (5 days only) students may spend one day at five different sites. This is a good opportunity to see a wide range of programs and services for individuals with special needs. Students are required to complete an observation activity (refer to the Practicum Handbook for the observation form) for each day they complete. These activities should be submitted to Sharyn Gilkes by mail as soon as they are completed. Please note that these activities may be handwritten but should provide adequate detail for assessment and credit. Incomplete or unsigned reports are not acceptable.

Where can I find out more about practicum?

Students should refer to the Practicum Handbook for details of practicum. The booklet is available on the web page at the Practicum Handbook Link at the top of the iLearn webpage.

Email queries about practicum should be sent to Prac Supervisor email at: des.pe@mq.edu.au

We strongly recommend you think about your practicum arrangements early in the semester as you may need to organise leave from your workplace to accommodate the practicum requirements.

When do I complete practicum?

Completion of practicum is part of the assessment for this unit.

Practicum must be completed before the end of the semester (that is, befoe 10th November, 2017)

If you have not completed practicum by the 10th November, 2017, you must apply for an extension, with the reasons documented though the disruption to studies process at askMQ.

You should read the additional information on disruption to studies in the General Assessment.

What happens if I do not complete all the requirements for practicum?

If you have not completed practicum and have not requested an extension, you will receive a FAIL (F) grade for the unit.

If you have an extension, or if you have completed practicum and your practicum reports have not been received by the due date, you will receive an INCOMPLETE ( UL) grade. Your final grade will be released when all practicum requirements have been met.