ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Details of assessments will be provided in class, on iLearn (Macquarie University's online unit management system) and/or through the TAMS Moodle.

ASSESSMENT SUBMISSION

Digital copies of all assessments will be required.  Assessments will be run through Turnitin.  As assessments need to be written in the student’s own words.

ACADEMIC HONESTY

Plagiarism is the presentation of thoughts and work of another as one’s own.

Examples include:

• Copying thoughts or work of another without appropriate acknowledgement
• Paraphrasing another person’s work with very minor changes
• Piecing together sections of the work of others into a new document.

All assessments need to be written in the student’s own words.  The penalties imposed by the University for plagiarism are serious and may include expulsion from the University.  ANY evidence of plagiarism will be dealt with following University policy.  Penalties for plagiarism will be imposed for each assessment and clearly defined in marking grades.  Further penalties imposed by the Faculty disciplinary committee may range from a loss of all marks and the award of zero depending on the circumstances.

EXTENSIONS, PENALTIES AND DISRUPTION TO STUDIES

The deadlines for assignments are not negotiable. If an assignment is submitted late a penalty of -5% of the mark allocated for the assignment will be deducted per day (i.e. 6 days late = -30% of marks available).  Submission must occur within one week (7 days) of the due date or the assignment will not be marked.

Students absent from more than one practical class without approval will be penalised 5% of their overall unit grade for every class missed.

If you experience a serious and unavoidable disruption to your studies and require an extension for an assessment please submit a Disruptions to Studies notification via ask.mq.edu.au with supporting documentation, and a Professional Authority Form completed by your health care professional.  If you anticipate as potentially serious and unavoidable disruption (e.g., upcoming surgery) speak to the unit staff early and apply for an extension before the due date.

UNIT COMPLETION

To pass this unit you must achieve an overall minimum grade of 50%.

SUPPLEMENTARY EXAMS

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the interval between the regular exam period and the start of the next session.  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.  You can check the supplementary examination information page on FSE101 in iLearn (bit.ly/FSESupp) for dates, and approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

STUDY COMMITMENT

All classes in BIOL877 are held on Thursdays at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS)

SEMINARS

A seminar series is built around current research questions in Australian marine science. Scientists from a number of disciplines will showcase their research and the most important research questions in their field in a one-hour weekly seminar.

Seminars take place weekly from 1.15pm to 2.15pm at SIMS.

PRACTICAL CLASSES

The practicals will introduce you to Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS), a national infrastructure facility that collects oceanographic data from Australia’s coasts and oceans.  These data are made publicly available and used by scientists to explore and monitor biological and oceanographic processes in coastal and offshore marine environments.

Practical classes usually consist of a one-hour tutorial followed by a two-hour hands-on practical.  They run weekly from 9.30am to 12.30pm at SIMS.

UNIT WEBSITE

The unit web page can be accessed via the student portal (log in at https://iLearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/).  There you will find unit information, resource material, announcements, forums and dialogue facilities.  You are encouraged to use the discussion and email facilities for communication amongst your fellow MQ students and the MQ unit convenor.  Please check the unit website regularly for any announcements and additional resource material.

BIOL877 is unusual in that delivery of the unit spans four Universities.  Because of this, you will also receive information through the TAMS Moodle, which will be explained to you by the Unit staff on the first day.

Lectures and information in the Practical classes will be recorded, although it is expected that you attend in person unless a prior arrangement has been made.

TECHNOLOGY USED AND REQUIRED

Students are expected to access all unit material through the iLearn and Moodle websites.  Basic multimedia software (e.g., Windows Media Player, Quicktime) will be needed to listen to recorded lectures.  Students will be required to use internet resources for sourcing information and to use the appropriate software.

As we are working with large freely available datasets, the practicals will all be computer-based.  You are encouraged to bring your own laptop if you have one as it will be easier to continue your work at home from where you left off in class.  We will be providing you with some software for use in some classes but in others, the work will be web-based or via electronic spreadsheets.

Before coming to class please do the following:

• Ensure you are running up-to-date software with all security patches installed
• Have either Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome installed, in addition to your default web browser. These browsers are more compatible with our software.
• Install Microsoft Excel and some form of a word processor (e.g., Microsoft Word). There are student versions of these available, and there are also some free alternatives.
• Have your computer language and keyboard set to English for any practicals conducted in R.

SOFTWARE INSTALLATION

Throughout this unit you will be required to install a variety of software.  The software is provided for you but you will be required to install the software BEFORE the relevant class. Please try to install the software in the first week or two of classes so we can address any issues well in advance.  The unit coordinator will be available to assist with software installation from 8.30am each Thursday morning at SIMS.

Further information about software installation will be provided in a separate handout.

ASSUMED KNOWLEDGE

This unit is data-intensive.  You will be downloading, manipulating and analysing datasets with many thousands of observations.  As a result, you need to be proficient in the use of Microsoft Excel and basic statistics.  Please check the assumed knowledge section of the iLearn website prior to the practicals for online tutorials covering these topics.

WIRELESS ACCESS AT SIMS

A special wireless network has been set up for TAMS at the Sydney Institute of Marine Science.

SSID: TAMS

Password: tams2019

The following changes from 2018 will occur for TAMS in 2019:

- The exam is now worth 40% instead of 50%

- The written assessment has been combined with the practical exercises to allow students to explore the practical topics in more depth.  These written assignments, which follow the practical modules, will be worth 60% in total.