ASSESSMENT PROCEDURE

A more detailed description of each task is given below.

Workshop Participation

Workshops are combined practicals and tutorials. Each week, you will receive a maximum of one mark for active participation in the class activities, discussions, and/or practical tasks. Attendance alone does not count towards any mark. There are 13 weeks of workshops, however, the total participation mark is limited to 7 throughout the semester. In workshops (week 7 and 13) , you will have your in-class assessment. So, these weeks are excluded from assessed participation. All other workshops are assessed. 

Participation in workshops in this unit is a hurdle requirement. In order to pass the unit you will be required to participate in 7 out of the 11 weeks. 

Diagnostic Quiz

This quiz will be an individual assessment; You will be attempting an online quiz that will be conducted in week 3 in the workshop you've enrolled. You will be answering questions from concepts covered in weeks 1 and 2. This quiz aims to determine students' individual strengths, weaknesses, knowledge and skills to develop a baseline of what students know about the topic. You will have to the attend the workshop you're enrolled in to attempt the quiz. No reattempts will be granted.

Assignments

There are 2 assignments.

1. The first assignment requires you to apply and develop your understanding of data modelling concepts and submit a professionally presented document demonstrating the use of data modelling skills. The document must be prepared using a standard word processor such as Word and diagrams can be either hand-drawn or created using a modelling tool/website. This assignment has two parts: Part one of this assignment will be a group submission; Part two of this assignment will be an individual quiz. 
2. The second assignment assesses your ability to design a database and provide interactive queries using MySQL. This assignment has two parts: Part one of this assignment will be a group submission; Part two of this assignment will be an individual quiz. 

You are encouraged to:

• set your personal deadline earlier than the actual one;
• keep backups of all your important files;
• make sure that no-one else picks up your printouts.

If you cannot submit on time because of illness or other circumstances, please contact the convenor before the due date. 

No extensions will be granted unless there is a special consideration approved. Late assignments will be accepted up to 72 hours after the submission deadline.  There will be a deduction of 10%* of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 20% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for disruption to studies is made and approved. 

Assignment submission in this unit is NOT a hurdle requirement. However, if you do not make a reasonable attempt at all the assignments, you are unlikely to have sufficient knowledge to pass the exam or sufficient total marks to be able to pass the unit.

Final Examination

For this unit, a final examination will test your learning and knowledge of learning outcomes #1, #2, #3 and #4. The final examination accounts for 50% of the final mark. If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the week of December 16-20, 2019. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Regarding the examination process, note that

• you must attend all required classes and submit all required assessment, otherwise the Executive Dean of the Faculty or delegated authority has the power to refuse permission to attend the final examination.
• the University Examination period in for Second Half Year is mid November to mid December.
• you are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the University Examination Timetable.
• the timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the examinations and in Final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of examinations.
• no early examinations for individuals or groups of students will be set. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, that is the final day of the official examination period.
• the only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to lodge an application for special consideration. 

Standards

Four standards, namely Developing, Functional, Proficient, and Advanced, summarize as many different levels of achievement. Each standard is precisely defined to help students know what kind of performance is expected to deserve a certain grade. Typically, Developing corresponds PC, Functional is for P, Proficient for Cr, and Advanced covers D and HD. The standards corresponding to the learning outcomes and criteria of this unit are given below:

Grading

In order to pass the unit, you must obtain a total mark of 50 or higher in the unit and obtain 7 in the participation component. The final mark will be the summation of the marks you have received for assessments including the final exam. 

For each task, those standards translate into a mark and the different component marks are added up. The final mark for the unit will be calculated by combining the marks for all assessment tasks according to the percentage weightings shown in the assessment summary. You will then be given a grade that reflects your achievement in the unit.

• Fail (F): does not provide evidence of attainment of all learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; and incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.
• Pass (P): provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; and communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes.
• Credit (Cr): provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; plus communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.
• Distinction (D): provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.
• High Distinction (HD): provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application.

ISYS114 is taught via lectures and workshops. The feedback that you receive also plays an important role in your learning. Make sure you read the feedback you are given, attend lectures which provide assignment feedback and compare your solution with sample solutions provided.

Lectures are used to introduce new material, provide motivation and context for your study, guide you in what is important to learn and explain more difficult concepts.

Workshops are small group classes which give you the opportunity to interact with your peers and with a tutor who has a sound knowledge of the subject. This also gives you a chance to practice your technology skills.

You have many opportunities to seek for and to receive feedback. During lectures, you are encouraged to ask the lecturer questions to clarify anything you might not be sure of. You may also arrange to meet with your tutor or the lecturer or attend the consultation hours of any tutor. Each week, you will be given activities and problems to solve in workshops. This will at times involve contributing to a group of students and presenting solutions to the class. Both assignments involves working in groups. The comments and the solutions provided will help you to understand the material in the unit, prepare you for the work in assignments as well as for the final exam. It is important that you keep up with these problems every week. Assignments have been especially designed to deliver continuous feedback on your work.

Each week you should:

• Attend lectures, take notes, ask questions
• Attend your workshops and seek feedback from your tutor on your work
• Read assigned reading material (ideally before the lecture), add to your notes and prepare questions for your lecturer or tutor
• Start working on any assignments immediately after they have been released. 

Lecture notes are made available each week but these notes are intended as an outline of the lecture only and are not a substitute for your own notes or reading of the textbook or other additional material.

Classes

Lectures

There are 2 hours of lectures per week.

1. Day Lectures: Monday 3-5pm in  21 Wally's Walk-Macquarie Theatre,
2. Evening Lectures: Tuesday 6-8 pm in 14 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Ave - Mason Theatre.

Each week you should attend two hours of lectures (or watch the recorded lecture), and a 2 hour Workshop. For details of days, times and rooms consult the timetables webpage.

Note that workshops commence in week 1.

Resources to assist your learning

iLecture

Digital recordings of lectures are available through the web page of the unit on ilearn.

Textbook

Various reading materials will be provided throughout the semester

Technology

MS Word, PowerDesigner, MySQL Workbench

Websites

The web page for this unit can be found at http://ilearn.mq.edu.au/

Discussion Boards

The unit makes use of discussion boards hosted within iLearn. Please post questions of general interest there (for example, about assessment tasks), they are monitored by the unit staff but students may also provide answers. 

In the table below, for each week, the lecturer, the topics to be covered and the textbook references are given. 

• Workshop participation is worth 7% 
• Introduction of a new assessment (diagnostic quiz)
• Weight of most of the assessments, including the final exam have changed
• There are two group assignments and two individual assignments