Completion of All Assessment Tasks:

All assessment tasks, except for the research participation, are compulsory. It is a requirement of this unit that students make a serious attempt to complete the other three assessment tasks. Failure to make a serious attempt to complete these three assessment tasks may result in failure in the whole unit even if the total marks for completed tasks add up to more than 50%. In such cases, failure results from the learning outcomes of the unit not being met.

Assignment Submission:

All written assignments must be submitted via turnitin. For each written assignment, you MUST submit the assignment in pdf format. Add a footer to each page of the assignment, with page numbering, your name and student number, “SPH310 2018”, and the assignment number clearly marked. Assignments without a footer may be returned late, may be marked incorrectly, or may not be accepted at all.

Students must keep a copy of each assignment as proof that it was completed and submitted in the event that a submitted assignment is misplaced or damaged.

Return of Marked Assignments:

Students’ marked assignments will, in general, be returned to them within 3 weeks of submission. Students will receive letter grades (and not marks) for their assignments. Any marks that students may receive, see, or infer from a (Turnitin) rubric or otherwise are only approximations, and cannot form the basis for an appeal.

How to apply for a late submission of an assignment:

All requests for special consideration, including extensions, must be submitted via ASK.mq.edu.au and provide suitable supporting documentation. Please make us aware of any circumstance that may affect your ability to complete an assessment on time. We are often able to help you manage your study load if we are aware of the situation before the assignment deadline. Requests for special consideration must always be submitted via ASK.mq.edu.au, within 5 days after the assignment deadline.

Late assignment submission:

• Late submissions without an extension will receive a penalty of 5% of the total mark available for the assignment per day
• Late submission of an assignment without an extension will not be permitted after marks have been released to the rest of the class.
• Extensions will only be given in special circumstances, and can be requested by completing the Special Consideration request at ask.mq.edu.au and providing the requisite supporting documentation.
• For more information on Special Consideration, see the university website https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration
• Assignments submitted after the deadline, regardless of the reason, will be marked and returned at a date determined by the unit convenor.
• Extensions cannot continue beyond the start of the following semester, and students should be aware that long extensions may impact graduation dates.

Appeals Against Grades:

If a student has a problem with the mark given for a particular assessment, the student should contact the Unit Convenor directly. A request for a re-mark must be lodged within two weeks of the date of receipt of the assessment. If a remark is granted, the final mark can be sustained, raised or lowered.

If a student wishes to appeal against a final grade for a unit, then the student should lodge their appeal via ask@mq.edu.au.

http://students.mq.edu.au/support/complaints_appeals/appeals/

Students will have access to weekly lectures, weekly tutorials, and the resources on the iLearn page to support their learning.

All lecture materials are assessable content for the exam, and provide the necessary content knowledge for successful completion of the assignments.

Tutorials are specifically designed to develop the skills required for successful completion of the assignments.

We welcome all your questions during lectures, during tutorials, and during the 10 minutes before and after lectures/tutorials. Please never hesitate to come talk to us! We strictly adhere to posting all written student questions and answers on iLearn. Our aim in doing this is providing all students with access to the same information. You can ask questions directly on the iLearn discussion fora, for your peers, tutor, or lecturer to answer (recommended option). You may also e-mail your lecturer or tutor, with the request that they post the question (anonymously) with the answer on iLearn. Questions of a personal nature are of course excluded from this procedure. Please contact Titia Benders (the unit convenor) directly if you have any personal questions or concerns.

*TB = Titia Benders

*JK = Jae-Hyun Kim

In the 2018 offering, assessment tasks and learning outcomes were changed (see below for details). Changes have gone through the University's Quality Assurance mechanism (FSQC) for approval.

Assessment tasks change:

Assessment task 2 has changed in the following ways:

• from week 7 to week 5
• change from a 2000 word written essay to a research commentary in a 5-minute video directed at a general audience;
• from an individual assignment to group work.

De deadline for Assessment task 3 has changed from week 10 to week 11.

Learning outcomes were changed. 

The 2017 learning outcomes were:

1. Describe typical patterns of speech and language development
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which speech and language development can be impaired
3. Evaluate theories and research relating to typically developing and impaired communication development
4. Analyse, interpret and report on speech and language samples
5. Discuss methods of communication assessment from the perspective of the various health professionals within the Australian Context
6. Demonstrate proficient written language skills across a variety of tasks including academic essay, professional report and critical review.
7. Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of children’s communication difficulties on their family and on their own ability to participate in society.
8. Engage in research pertaining to speech and language

The 2018 unit outcomes are:

The aim of this unit is to provide an overview and discussion of typical as well as atypical development of speech, language, and communication in the first five years.

At the end of this unit, students will be able to:

1. Apply an advanced understanding of how typically developing children (0-5) develop speech, language, and communication;
2. Communicate a basic understanding of ways that speech, language, and communication development can be atypical
3. Analyse the impact that (atypical) speech, language, and communication development has on the children’s family and on their own ability to participate in society.
4. Evaluate and make informed decisions regarding theories and research in typical and atypical speech, language, and communication development; and
5. Analyse, interpret, and report on speech, language, and communication samples.