Late penalty

• Late submission of an assignment will attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark for every day that the assignment is late (including weekend days). For example, if the assignment is worth 40 marks and your assignment is submitted 2 days late, a penalty of 2x5%x40 = 4 marks will be applied and subtracted from the awarded mark for the assignment. Work submitted more than 14 days after the submission deadline will not be marked and will receive a mark of 0. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to notify the University of a disruption to their studies and that requests for extensions for assignments must be made via the University’s Ask MQ System (as outlined in the Special Considerations policy). 

Delivery

Lectures are held weekly (2 hours), starting in Week 1. Please check timetable for details of time and location: https://timetables.mq.edu.au/2020/

Lecture slides will be uploaded just before the lecture time under the lecture link in the relevant week in ilearn. Lecture recordings will be available through Echo360.

Tutorials are held fortnightly (2 hours) starting in Week 2 or Week 3 depending on your assigned tutorial. Please check eStudent for the time and location of your tutorial.

iLearn

You will need access to the internet to access the unit's iLearn page. Through iLearn you will be able to access the lecture recordings (Echo360), additional readings, and feedback and marks for the assessment tasks.

You are also required to submit the Research Report via iLearn, using the Turnitin submission tool. 

Weekly online quizzes

This unit has weekly online multiple choice quizzes designed to keep you on track during the semester, these test knowledge and understanding of content of the lectures and associated required readings/activities including tutorial activities. 

There are 10 quizzes in total from Week 1 to Week 12, with no quiz set for week 7 because of the mid-semester exam.

Quizzes will be graded either as full credit or no credit; no partial credit will be given.

To receive full credit on a quiz, you must correctly answer at least 50% of the multiple choice questions. If you correctly answer less than 50% of the questions, you will receive no credit for that quiz. No make-up quizzes will be permitted (with the exception of officially approved Special Consideration requests). However, your 2 lowest quizzes will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Quizzes must be completed online each week after the lecture.

Each quiz will be open until 11.59pm Wednesday night, the night before the next  lecture. For example, the quiz for content of Lecture 3 will be open until 11.59pm Wednesday night before Lecture 4.

Only quizzes completed before this deadline will be recorded. These quizzes are open book, and you may take each quiz multiple times before the deadline, but only the first submitted attempt for each quiz will be counted. You will receive feedback as to your correct and incorrect answers at the completion of each quiz.

There are no quizzes the week after the Mid-term Exam (Week 7).

The quizzes are delivered through iLearn, so you need to have access to a reliable computer with connection to the Internet. Technical difficulties will not be accepted as a reason for special consideration.

To access the online quizzes:

1. Navigate to the appropriate week in iLearn (e.g., Week 2) and click on that week’s quiz.

2. Read the information provided about what content that quiz will cover (it’s open book!), and note the date and time the quiz will close.

3. Click “Attempt quiz now” to begin. After answering each multiple-choice question, click “Save and review”.

4. Next, ensure you have answered each question (i.e., “Answer saved”). If you have not answered a question (i.e., “Not yet answered”), click “Return to attempt”.

5. Once you are satisfied that you have answered every question, click “Submit all and finish”. This will submit your quiz for scoring and log your grade.

6. Finally, you can carefully review your feedback to note which questions you did and did not answer correctly. The correct answer for each question will be given.

7. Click “Finish review” to exit. Remember, you can attempt the quiz again by selecting “Re-attempt quiz”, but only your first attempt will count towards your grade.

Mid-semester exam

This is a multiple choice exam, in class, in the lecture room, during scheduled lecture time in Week 7 (1 hour duration), which will assess all topics covered before the mid-semester break in lectures, tutorials and readings.

As the exam is in the standard lecture time, we expect all students to be able to attend in person.

If you are unable to sit the mid-semester exam at the specified time, you must advise the Student Centre via ask.mq.edu.au and must also apply for Special Consideration through ask.mq.edu.au and submit appropriate supporting documents. Original documents need to be presented at the Student Centre. This should be done within five (5) working days from the day of the examination. It should be noted that Macquarie University Policy states: "Pre-booked holidays will not routinely be considered unavoidable absences or commitments by the University". Students deemed eligible for a late mid-semester exam will be notified via email about the time and location of the exam.

Research Report

The Research Report is an opportunity for the student to develop written communication skills and demonstrate understanding of concepts relating to skilled reading and its breakdown in dyslexia. Data will be provided from an individual with dyslexia and an analysis will be required of the pattern of impairment observed and their implications. 

Research reports must be a maximum of 1,500 words. There will be 5% leeway in the word limit (i.e., up to 75 words over 1500), but beyond that you will be penalised 5% of your report mark for every further 100 words over the limit.

Late submission of your report will attract a penalty of 5% of the maximum mark for every day that the assignment is late (including weekend days). For example, if it is submitted 2 days late, you will get a penalty of 10% for this assignment. Work submitted more than 14 days after the submission deadline will not be marked and will receive a mark of 0. Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to notify the University of a disruption to their studies and that requests for extensions for assignments must be made via the University’s Ask MQ System (as outlined in the Special Consideration Policy).

You are required to submit your Research Report via iLearn, using the Turnitin submission tool no later than 11.59pm Wednesday 8th May.   

Final exam

The final exam consists of multiple choice and short answer questions covering lecture, assigned reading and tutorial content over the entire semester.

The time and location for this exam will be timetabled centrally and announced later in the semester.

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 the examinations (http://students.mq.edu.au/student_admin/exams/).

The only exception to sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. In these circumstances you may wish to consider applying for special consideration due to disruption to studies. Information about unavoidable disruption and the special consideration process is available at: http://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process, the examination will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period. The format of a supplementary examination is at the unit convenor’s discretion and is subject to change from the original final examination. Supplementary Exams are only offered to students who have satisfactorily completed all other assessments for the unit and were unable to sit the final exam because of documented illness or unavoidable disruption. If a Supplementary Exam has been granted, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they sit the Supplementary Exam on the specified date.

You are advised that it is Macquarie University policy not to set early examinations for individuals or groups of students. All students are expected to ensure that they are available until the end of the teaching semester, which is the final day of the official examination period.

Unit will comprise lectures and tutorials covering the following topics:

Questions about the unit

Your tutor can answer most of the questions that you may have about the unit, including questions about the unit in general and specific questions about the tutorials. If you experience difficulty in this unit, you should approach you tutor first.

You can get in touch with your tutor before or after your tutorial, via email, or via the dialogue tool on iLearn.

Contact details for tutors can be found at the top of this unit guide and on ilearn. Please note that your tutor is your first point of contact for any of these questions.

The unit convenor is to be contacted only when absolutely necessary, and is to be contacted during the specified contact hours or via email only.

Requests for extensions, medical leave and/or disruption to studies

Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to notify the University of a disruption to their studies. All requests for extensions, medical leave and/or disruption to studies should be made prior to the due date for the assignment, are to be made via the University’s online Ask MQ system (as outlined in the Special Considerations Policy).

Requests for tutorial changes

Changes to tutorials need to be done online via eStudent only. After week 2, no further changes will be entertained unless supporting documentation about the reason for changing is provided and there is space in the tutorial you wish to enrol in. Please note that changes to tutorials cannot be made by the unit convenor or tutor.

Do I need to look at iLearn? (short answer: Yes!)

You should check the iLearn web site at regular intervals for announcements, online quizzes, lecture slides, and other supplementary learning materials.

It also features a discussion board on which you may converse with other students about course material, or any other legitimate business related to COGS2050.

The iLearn site also has the Active Learning Platform activities for links to Echo360, which will have the lecture recordings.

The feedback and marks for the assessment tasks are also delivered via iLearn. It is recommended that you visit this site regularly and make full use of the facilities.

What does it take to do well in COGS2050?

You are expected to pay close attention to all lectures and to take notes to aid your retention of the material.

Although Echo360 will be invaluable when attendance is physically impossible, it is recommended that you attend all lectures in person, particularly as we incorporate interactive activities, discussion and demonstrations within the lectures.

Review of the material  (individually, or in group sessions) in your own time will be essential to consolidate knowledge and enhance understanding.

Required reading should be completed before completing the relevant online quizzes, and the next lecture. The online quizzes are designed to help you keep up with this reading.

These online quizzes offer the chance to answer questions while using resources such as the textbook. This open book format is unlike formal examinations, and offers an opportunity for grade enhancement that should not be missed.

You also need to attend and engage with the tutorials, completing all the activities and making the most of the opportunities to develop research skills and consolidate understanding of the lecture and tutorial content.

Assessment will be based on the successful understanding of material from lectures, tutorials and from the required reading. Watching the lectures or reviewing lecture slides alone will not be sufficient.

Please note that rote learning alone is unlikely to be a successful strategy, as the assessments will test for deeper appreciation of the course material in a variety of formats. Simply remembering the “facts” will not suffice. You need to demonstrate your understanding of the principles, and demonstrate the ability to apply such understanding in new contexts.

What material is examinable?

Questions on the mid-semester exam will come from topics covered during lectures, required readings and tutorials from the preceding weeks.

The additional information in the supplementary reading is not directly examined but is likely to deepen and support your understanding of key concepts described in the lecture.

The final exam will be cumulative, covering content from lectures, required readings and tutorials from the whole course.

How do I upload my assignment via iLearn?

You are required to submit your Experimental Report via iLearn, using the Turnitin submission tool. Please use the following step-to-step guide on how to submit a Turnitin assignment.

It is the right of each student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all classes on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please enter the lecture theatre or tutorial as quietly as possible to minimise disruption, using the back entrance if possible.

Although some lectures will have discussion sections or questions during lectures, talking between students while the lecturer is talking is disruptive and is strongly discouraged.

Phones, pagers, and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for classrelated activities (e.g. taking notes), you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others.

COGS2050 focuses on reading and its disorders. We therefore will be discussing individuals with reading and spelling disorders, either from childhood or as a result of brain damage. Please be respectful in such discussions.

COGS2050 also involves data collection from other students. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let your tutor know.

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery.

As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others on the basis of their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief.

All lecturers, tutors and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

The Unit Convenor is an active supporter of equity and diversity at Macquarie University, including being a member of the Ally network, and is happy to provide additional support if needed.