Students

COGS3999 – Cognitive Science in the Real World

2020 – Session 2, Special circumstance

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group learning activities on campus for the second half-year, while keeping an online version available for those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face to face activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Deanna Francis
Convenor
Genevieve McArthur
Tutor
Samantha Parker
Briony Mamo
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp including COGS2000 or COGS202 or COGS2010 or COGS2020 or COGS2030 or COGS2040 or COGS2050
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This PACE unit enables students to prepare themselves for the next phase of their career in research, industry, or beyond. The lecture series covers a set of tools that students will be equipped with to apply cognitive science in the real world. Throughout this unit, strong focus will be placed on ethical and cultural competence; effective scientific communication; the consolidation of acquired knowledge and practical skills; and deepening one's understanding of cognitive science, especially the connections between the various disciplines of cognitive science and their impact on modern society. This will be complemented by a video series in which guest speakers will describe the role of cognitive science in their career.

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:

  • ULO1: Develop key workplace skills that will help maximise your contribution to your field of work and build a positive workplace experience.
  • ULO2: Investigate and compare the diverse career options where an understanding of cognitive science is essential, valuable, or advantageous.
  • ULO3: Critically reflect on core knowledge and key skills gained throughout your program of study for the purpose of appreciating the value of these skills in your future profession.
  • ULO4: Consolidate practical transition skills including effective communication and critical thinking skills.
  • ULO5: Set long-term career goals and identify strategies to achieve these goals.
  • ULO6: Demonstrate an awareness of applied ethical and cultural conduct in all aspects of professional activities.

General Assessment Information

This unit requires completion of weekly quizzes, tutorial participation, science communication (blog, group presentation), and an aspirational portfolio. You are also required to submit a PACE Report (presentation) and Log Book. These assessments require students to reflect on their experience in the unit and project this experience into an aspirational career path. Students will be encouraged to collect resources, anecdotes, and reflections to both illustrate their journey within the unit and support their future decision-making. The unit will also encourage peer mentoring to engage in regular reflection and evaluation of the unit progress and evaluation of students' learning experiences.

This unit requires satisfactory completion of a PACE placement. Please carefully read the Student Placement Guide in order to correctly complete this assessment. To be sure, this is a requirement and students not completing this component will FAIL the course.

Submission Methods

All assessments will be submitted via iLearn. There is a 5% leeway in the word limit (i.e., up to 40 words for a 750-word assignment), but beyond that you will be penalised 5% of your report mark for every further 100 words over the limit. Pages beyond the maximum limit will not be assessed.

Late-submission and Extension

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).

 

Name

Weighting Hurdle Due
Tutorial Participation 15% No Weekly
Quizzes 10% No Weekly
Science Communication: Blog 15% No

Week 4: Wednesday 19th August, 5:00pm

Science Communication: Multimedia Presentation  10%

No

Week 7: Wednesday 9th September, 5:00pm
Aspirational Portfolio: Draft Submission 0% No Week 8: Wednesday 30th September, 5:00pm
Aspirational Portfolio: Peer Feedback 5% No Week 10: Wednesday 14th October, 5:00pm
Aspirational Portfolio: Final Submission 20% No Week 12: Wednesday 28th October, 5:00pm
PACE Report: Presentation 25% No Week 13: Wednesday 4th November, 5:00pm
PACE: Log Book 0% Yes Week 13: Friday 6th November, 5:00pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Tutorial participation 15% No Weekly
Weekly online quizzes 10% No Weekly
Science communication 25% No Blog - Week 4: 19/08/2020; Presentation - Week 7: 09/09/2020
Aspirational portfolio 25% No Week 8: 30/09/2020; Week 10: 14/10/2020; Week 12: 28/10/2020
PACE report 25% No Week 13: 04/11/2020
PACE log book 0% Yes Week 13: 06/11/2020

Tutorial participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 0 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 15%

 

Active participation in weekly tutorials

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop key workplace skills that will help maximise your contribution to your field of work and build a positive workplace experience.
  • Investigate and compare the diverse career options where an understanding of cognitive science is essential, valuable, or advantageous.
  • Critically reflect on core knowledge and key skills gained throughout your program of study for the purpose of appreciating the value of these skills in your future profession.
  • Consolidate practical transition skills including effective communication and critical thinking skills.
  • Set long-term career goals and identify strategies to achieve these goals.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of applied ethical and cultural conduct in all aspects of professional activities.

Weekly online quizzes

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 5 hours
Due: Weekly
Weighting: 10%

 

Weekly online quizzes embedded within online lectures.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop key workplace skills that will help maximise your contribution to your field of work and build a positive workplace experience.
  • Investigate and compare the diverse career options where an understanding of cognitive science is essential, valuable, or advantageous.
  • Critically reflect on core knowledge and key skills gained throughout your program of study for the purpose of appreciating the value of these skills in your future profession.

Science communication

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Blog - Week 4: 19/08/2020; Presentation - Week 7: 09/09/2020
Weighting: 25%

 

Group multimedia presentation that translates recent cognitive science research into a multimedia experience for a lay audience (10%, 3-5 minute presentation). This group presentation is accompanied by an individual science communication blog post (15%, max. 750 words).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop key workplace skills that will help maximise your contribution to your field of work and build a positive workplace experience.
  • Critically reflect on core knowledge and key skills gained throughout your program of study for the purpose of appreciating the value of these skills in your future profession.
  • Consolidate practical transition skills including effective communication and critical thinking skills.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of applied ethical and cultural conduct in all aspects of professional activities.

Aspirational portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: Week 8: 30/09/2020; Week 10: 14/10/2020; Week 12: 28/10/2020
Weighting: 25%

 

The portfolio consists of 3 components: A cover letter responding to specific selection criteria (15%, max. 1000 words, graded); an aspirational CV (5%, max. 4 pages, pass/fail); peer review of aspirational portfolios (5%, pass/fail).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Investigate and compare the diverse career options where an understanding of cognitive science is essential, valuable, or advantageous.
  • Critically reflect on core knowledge and key skills gained throughout your program of study for the purpose of appreciating the value of these skills in your future profession.
  • Consolidate practical transition skills including effective communication and critical thinking skills.
  • Set long-term career goals and identify strategies to achieve these goals.

PACE report

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 13: 04/11/2020
Weighting: 25%

 

Multimedia summary of the placement including one example of reflection implemented during the placement (max. 4 minutes).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop key workplace skills that will help maximise your contribution to your field of work and build a positive workplace experience.
  • Critically reflect on core knowledge and key skills gained throughout your program of study for the purpose of appreciating the value of these skills in your future profession.
  • Consolidate practical transition skills including effective communication and critical thinking skills.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of applied ethical and cultural conduct in all aspects of professional activities.

PACE log book

Assessment Type 1: Log book
Indicative Time on Task 2: 1 hours
Due: Week 13: 06/11/2020
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

 

Log book of PACE activities (pass/fail).

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Develop key workplace skills that will help maximise your contribution to your field of work and build a positive workplace experience.
  • Consolidate practical transition skills including effective communication and critical thinking skills.
  • Demonstrate an awareness of applied ethical and cultural conduct in all aspects of professional activities.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Unit Overview

COGS3999 is a Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) and capstone unit for Cognitive and Brain Sciences which is undertaken during the third year of an undergraduate degree in preparation for either leaving to find employment or continuing on to further study. This unit provides students with:

  • An opportunity to reflect on their undergraduate learning to date and on how they might use it;

  • It encourages students to integrate and synthesise the information from the various sub- disciplines in cognitive science;

  • It encourages students to think about how real-world issues may be approached with this knowledge;

  • It focuses on the generic skills students will take into the workplace or further study; and

  • It provides information on what jobs are available in cognitive science, how to apply for and prepare for those jobs, and on the codes of conduct and ethical behaviour guidelines that will inform your professional conduct in the workplace or in further research.

Delivery

Lectures: All lectures will be delivered online, starting in Week 1. Lectures are pre-recorded videos available on iLearn. You are expected to watch the lectures before your tutorial.

Tutorials: To maximise flexibility for COGS999 students, tutorials will be delivered in both on-campus and online delivery modes. Tutorials are scheduled for Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13. All on-campus tutorials will take place in the Tutorial Room 230, 11 Wallys Walk. Due to social distancing requirements, you will have to attend the on-campus tutorial you enrolled in through eStudent. You will not be able to attend another on-campus tutorial class instead. If you have enrolled in an online tutorial, consult iLearn for further details.  

Placements: Students will need to develop their ability to learn from practical experience during the placement component (32-hours) of the unit and will be expected to show initiative and be quite self- regulated before and during placement, and throughout the unit. Attendance is compulsory. Students will be expected to facilitate and attend their placement, to keep a log book for that placement, and to perform satisfactorily as volunteers. Students who do not get a grade of satisfactory for the placement component of this unit will FAIL the unit.

Readings

There is no textbook for this unit. Readings may be assigned in preparation for each lecture or tutorial and will be listed on the unit iLearn page. These readings are listed as optional but typically supports areas of lectures that are either not covered in the textbook or provide additional insights into the material.

iLearn

You will need access to a computer that can reliably connect to the internet to access the unit's iLearn page. Through iLearn you will be able to access the weekly modules and quizzes, readings, and feedback and marks for the assessment tasks. You are also required to submit assessment tasks via iLearn, using the Turnitin submission tool. Please allow time to familiarise yourself with how to access iLearn and how to submit a Turnitin assignment.

  • The unit convenor will send important messages through iLearn. Ensure you adjust your settings to receive these notifications.

    PLEASE NOTE: It is University policy that the University issued email account (i.e., your.name@students.mq.edu.au) will be used for all official University communication. All students are required to access their University email account frequently. In COGS3999 you should check this account at least weekly. Emails from within the unit will also be sent via the iLearn internal email system, which should be checked often.

Unit Schedule

Week Date Module Lecturer Tutorial Topic
1 27th July Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion Izzy De Allende No tutorial
2 3rd August Organisation & Ethics Dr Celia Harris & Kandy White Introductions, group allocations, assessments
3 10th August Communication Amanda Crews Organisation
4 17th August Reflection Dr Kath McLachlan Story Telling
5 24th August Getting to Why Dr Nicholas Badcock Reflection
6 31st August Parapsychology Dr Stephanie Howarth Values, interviews
7 7th September Evidence-based decision Making Professor Genevieve McArthur Science Communication Presentations
Break 14th September      
Break 21st September      
8 28th September Autism in the Workplace Professor Liz Pelicano Seeking Evidence
9 5th October Career Essentials Justine McKenna Cognitive Disorders in the Workplace
10 12th October Transferrable Skills Dr Samantha Baggott Skills Audit & Resumes
11 19th October Theory to Practice Professor Max Coltheart, Professor Anne Castles, MURC Unlikely Jobs
12 26th October     Theory to Practice & PACE Reflection
13 2nd November     PACE Report Presentations

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/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/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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 help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

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

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@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.