Students

SPED927 – Complex Vision Impairment

2017 – S2 Online

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Executive Officer, Graduate Studies
Claire Farrington
Contact via (02) 9872 0811
8am to 4.30pm Monday to Thursday
Unit Convenor
Susan Silveira
Contact via (02) 9872 0248
8am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
SPED926
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This course extends and develops concepts and learning introduced in SPED926 Introduction to Vision Impairment, with a particular focus on individuals and groups with complex support needs. The student’s knowledge and understanding of the substantial challenges for individual, family and community arising from blindness and vision impairment will be developed.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Provide support to vision impaired clients and their families through the ongoing clinical diagnostic process
  • Demonstrate a high level of understanding regarding complex medical conditions and vision impairment
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of neurological insult on the body systems
  • Communicate appropriately with clients, their families and other professionals regarding individual needs related to vision impairment

General Assessment Information

Extensions

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:

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

 

Penalties for late submissions

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). Students 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.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Personal reflection essay 40% No 01/09/2017
Online contribution 30% No 10/11/2017
Complex individual essay 30% No 20/09/2017

Personal reflection essay

Due: 01/09/2017
Weighting: 40%

This assessment facilitates the student's exploration of their personal readiness for working with complex individuals.

Word count: 2000 words 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Provide support to vision impaired clients and their families through the ongoing clinical diagnostic process
  • Communicate appropriately with clients, their families and other professionals regarding individual needs related to vision impairment

Online contribution

Due: 10/11/2017
Weighting: 30%

Students will contribute to online discussions and case studies to build their body of knowledge of complex individuals.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a high level of understanding regarding complex medical conditions and vision impairment
  • Communicate appropriately with clients, their families and other professionals regarding individual needs related to vision impairment

Complex individual essay

Due: 20/09/2017
Weighting: 30%

Students report on one health condition associated with complex individuals, to build their knowledge and understanding of the common comorbidities that occur when an individual has multiple health need and disability.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate a high level of understanding regarding complex medical conditions and vision impairment
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of neurological insult on the body systems
  • Communicate appropriately with clients, their families and other professionals regarding individual needs related to vision impairment

Delivery and Resources

This unit is delivered online. All learning materials will be available for download in the iLearn site.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central. Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Academic Honesty Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/academic_honesty/policy.html

Assessment Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html

Grade Appeal Policy http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/gradeappeal/policy.html

Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/complaint_management/procedure.html​

Disruption to Studies Policy (in effect until Dec 4th, 2017): http://www.mq.edu.au/policy/docs/disruption_studies/policy.html

Special Consideration Policy (in effect from Dec 4th, 2017): https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration

In addition, a number of other policies can be found in the Learning and Teaching Category of Policy Central.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Provide support to vision impaired clients and their families through the ongoing clinical diagnostic process
  • Communicate appropriately with clients, their families and other professionals regarding individual needs related to vision impairment

Assessment task

  • Personal reflection essay

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a high level of understanding regarding complex medical conditions and vision impairment
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of neurological insult on the body systems

Assessment task

  • Complex individual essay

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of neurological insult on the body systems

Assessment tasks

  • Personal reflection essay
  • Online contribution
  • Complex individual essay

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate a high level of understanding regarding complex medical conditions and vision impairment
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of neurological insult on the body systems

Assessment task

  • Online contribution

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Communicate appropriately with clients, their families and other professionals regarding individual needs related to vision impairment

Assessment tasks

  • Personal reflection essay
  • Online contribution

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Provide support to vision impaired clients and their families through the ongoing clinical diagnostic process
  • Communicate appropriately with clients, their families and other professionals regarding individual needs related to vision impairment