When preparing your assignments, it is essential that:

• Students regularly save a copy of all assignments before submission,
• 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.

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.
• It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all assessments are successfully submitted through Turnitin.
• Faculty assignment cover sheets are NOT required.

Draft Submissions & Turnitin Originality Reports

• Students will be able to use Turnitin’s Originality Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing. Turnitin will be opened for submission in advance of the due date for Assignments 1 and 3. Students will be able to access their originality reports and resubmit if they wish prior to the due date. Please note that originality reports can take up to 24hrs to generate. 

Final Submissions

• Students are responsible for checking that their submission has been successful and has been submitted by the due date and time.
• Do not contact staff asking them to check your submission.
• Late submissions due to last minute technical difficulties may incur a lateness penalty.
• Your assignment will be marked based on what is received – any omissions will not be accepted after your submission. Please check very carefully.

Extensions and Disruption to Studies

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.

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.

Disruption to Studies

The following link takes you to the Disruption to Studies policy, which makes clear the ways in which you can apply for special consideration in times of difficulty.

http://students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/exams/disruption_to_studies/

Appealing an assignment grade (requesting a re-mark)

If you have evidence that your task has been incorrectly assessed against the grade descriptors you can request a remark.  To request a re-mark, you need to contact the unit convenor within 7 days of the date of return of the assignment and provide a detailed assessment your script against the task criteria. Evidence from your assignment must be provided to support your judgements. 

Please note: The outcome of a remark may be a higher/lower or unchanged grade. Grades are standards referenced and effort is NOT a criterion.

ECED831 is delivered in External Mode. The unit content, delivered via unit readings and assignment tasks is supported by:    

• Individual consultations with the unit convener (if required)  

• A voluntary on-campus session on Saturday 16th September

Unit Web-page There is a website for this unit. Access to this unit is available online through iLearn (ilearn.mq.edu.au). You will need to login using your Macquarie ID. This site is an essential unit resource. You are required to check this website at least twice per week for any announcements. In addition, it has the following features and functions:

        • Study resources: including links to required readings

        • Assignment details: detailed guidelines for each assessment task

        • Assignment submission links: All assignments are submitted via the unit webpage through the turnitin facility

        • Dialogue: for private messages to teaching staff.

        • Discussion pages: for conversation with peers about unit content On-Campus Session.

A Voluntary On-Campus day is provided on Saturday 16th September. The purpose of the on-campus day is to provide deeper discussion and reflection on the unit content. The day will include a focus on content relating to Assignments 2 & 3. Students are encouraged to bring their work in progress or initial thinking to discuss with the Unit Coordinator. Students will be asked to register in advance via iLearn to attend the on-campus session.

Student Workload and Allocation of Time

ECED 831 is worth four credit points and you would usually be expected to allocate about 12 hours a week in study for a four credit point unit over 15 weeks. This would be a total of 180 hours over the semester. 

Unit Expectations

• Students are listen to all of the unit lectures and read the relevant readings for each lecture
• All assessment tasks must be submitted.
• In order to receive a passing grade in this unit, you need to meet the following criteria:
  • Receive an adequate total mark for the unit (i.e. your combined marks for all assessment tasks).
  • Have made a serious attempt at passing all pieces of work in order to pass the unit.
  • In order to receive a grade of Pass, your total mark must be at least 50/100.
  • Note: It is not the responsibility of unit staff to contact students who have failed to submit assignments.  If you have any missing items of assessment, it is your responsibility to make contact with the unit coordinator.

Electronic Communication

During semester time, communication between staff and students use the following ways:

• Dialogue function on iLearn
• Other iLearn communication functions
• Official MQ Student Email Address

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

Withdrawing from this PG Unit

If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice by writing to https://ask.mq.edu.au before doing so as this unit may be a co-requisite or prerequisite for units in the following semesters and may impact on your progression through the degree.