Assessment Criteria 

Assessment at Macquarie University is standards-based, as outlined in the Assessment Policy. This means that your work will be assessed against clear criteria, and these criteria (e.g in a rubric) will be made available when the assessment tasks are released to you on iLearn.  

Submission of Assessments 

All assessments must be submitted online through Turnitin unless otherwise indicated. Links for the submission of each assessment will be available on iLearn.​ 

You should always check that you have uploaded the correct file. If you have a problem, please email the Unit Convenor with your correct file. You must also keep a copy of your assessments until the end of semester in case there is a problem with your submission. It is your responsibility to ensure that you can provide a copy of your assessment if requested. 

Marking of Assessments 

Assessments will be marked through Turnitin with grades provided through Gradebook on iLearn. Please do not submit your assessments via email or in hard copy unless requested (e.g. a sketch or drawing).  

We aim to return your assessment grades and feedback within two to three weeks of the date that you submitted. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn when your marked assessments and feedback are available for viewing. 

Penalties for Late Assessments 

The penalty for late submission of assessments in this unit is ten percent (10 %) of the assessment value per day, calculated from the due time and date. This means that if the assignment is worth a total of 30 marks (or 30 % of the unit) you will lose 3 marks for each day late. This is a hefty penalty designed to make you aware of the importance of organising yourself around assessment due dates. The penalty will be applied over weekdays and weekends unless you have been granted an extension prior to the due date. 

Extensions for Assessments 

To obtain an extension for an assessment task, you will need to follow the formal process as outlined in the Special Consideration Policy, and you must provide appropriate supporting evidence (e.g. medical certificate - see advice for Special Consideration requests). The final decision regarding the granting of an extension lies with the unit convenor. Permission for extensions must be sought before the due date unless there are exceptional circumstances. Please let us know of problems in advance or as soon as possible, not after the event. We are likely to be much more sympathetic and able to accommodate your circumstance if you follow this advice. 

There is no exam in this unit.

Unit iLearn 

This unit has an iLearn page that can be accessed through ilearn.mq.edu.au. It contains important information and other materials relating to the course, including details and links for assessments. 

Communication 

The unit iLearn is the primary way that we communicate with you. Please check it regularly for announcements and posts. You are encouraged to use the Discussion Board on iLearn to post questions and generate discussion with other students. Please only email the convenor with private matters - all other questions should be posted on iLearn.

Unit Organisation and Unit Schedule

This unit is organised into three modules:

• Module 1 - ​Australia's unique environment and the need to manage impacts. This module examines some of the physical environmental management challenges posed by people and Australia's unique environment, such as the impacts of bushfire management on vegetation communities, and the impacts of urban areas on streams.
• Module 2 - Role of environmental legislation and policy. This module focuses on how law and policy impacts on the environment through strategic planning, statutory development assessments and day-to-day decision-making. This module will tie together your understanding of the physical environment and some of the tools that are used to prevent or manage environmental impacts.
• Module 3 - Politics, management and the environment. This module explores several themes in environmental management and decision-making including: environmental management systems, stakeholder engagement, negotiation, integration and political advocacy. This module will demonstrate the social/political challenges and complexities of environmental management.

The content in the unit is conveyed through weekly lectures and workshops. The organisation of these is outlined in a detailed unit schedule which is available on iLearn. 

We use multiple approaches in teaching and delivery, including blended learning and experiential learning, such as reading texts, watching videos, listening to audio resources, visiting field sites, participating in class activities and online discussion forums. The emphasis is on enabling students to understand and apply various techniques used in environmental management.

Class Timetable

The class timetable for this unit can be found through the Timetable portal. Due to the COVID-disruption, all lectures in the unit will be online this semester. Students enrolled in the Weekday attendance offering (Internal) will need to attend on-campus for the workshops, unless you opt for the online workshops. Students enrolled in the Infrequent attendance offering (External) will need to attend the weekly online workshops via Zoom. These will also be recorded. 

Please check the unit schedule carefully as some weeks may have other instructions or require you to meet in a different location. Any updates or changes to the unit or classes will be announced through iLearn.

Workload  

The expected workload for this 10 credit point unit is 150 hours of activity, comprising of lectures, workshops, completion of assessments and individual study.  

Requirements to complete this unit satisfactorily  

To complete this unit satisfactorily, you must: 

1. Attend all scheduled classes; 
2. Complete all assessments; and 
3. Achieve a pass grade or higher. 

The descriptions for grades common to all coursework units offered by Macquarie University are outlined in Schedule 1 of the Assessment Policy.  

Recommended Texts and/or Materials  

There is no specific textbook for this unit. You will be required to research information independently and consult a wide variety of information sources to aid your learning in this unit.

Referencing

In this unit, the preferred style of referencing is Harvard (author, date). For further details on the Harvard style, go to: https://libguides.mq.edu.au/referencing/Harvard

Technology Used and Required 

This unit will use iLearn and Echo360. See the Instructions on how to log in to iLearn and the iLearn quick guides for students which will help you: 

• Getting started - Find out how to navigate and familiarise yourself with the iLearn environment 

• Activities - Learn how to effectively complete the activities required of you in iLearn 

• Assignments and Gradebook - Find out how to submit assessments and view your grades using iLearn 

• Online study tips - Studying online is a unique experience, learn how to navigate it here 

• Discussion forums - Explore the different types, and features of discussion forums in iLearn 

• Lecture recordings - Find out how to access lectures online, as well as the features available to you