Students

FOSE3000 – Making Science Work for You and Society: Capstone

2021 – Session 2, Weekday attendance, North Ryde

Session 2 Learning and Teaching Update

The decision has been made to conduct study online for the remainder of Session 2 for all units WITHOUT mandatory on-campus learning activities. Exams for Session 2 will also be online where possible to do so.

This is due to the extension of the lockdown orders and to provide certainty around arrangements for the remainder of Session 2. We hope to return to campus beyond Session 2 as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so.

Some classes/teaching activities cannot be moved online and must be taught on campus. You should already know if you are in one of these classes/teaching activities and your unit convenor will provide you with more information via iLearn. If you want to confirm, see the list of units with mandatory on-campus classes/teaching activities.

Visit the MQ COVID-19 information page for more detail.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Matt Owers
by email appointment
Kira Westaway
by email appointment
Melanie Bishop
by email appointment
Ayse Bilgin
by email appointment
Frank Valckenborgh
by email appointment
Natalie Spence
by email appointment
Lee Spitler
by email appointment
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to (BSc or BAdvSc) and 80cp at 2000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit has an online offering for S2 which is synchronous, meaning there will be set times to attend online lectures and tutorials.

How do the skills and knowledge you have acquired fit you for the next step beyond your degree? What is the role of scientific thinking in the workplace and in solving society’s problems? A major component of this unit is a cross-disciplinary project, in which you will collaborate with students from other majors in the Bachelor of Science. You will identify and practice employability and workplace skills, connecting your university experiences to career aspirations. By actively reflecting on prior learning and experiences, you will build and articulate a positive self-understanding, exploring opportunities and clarifying goals for the next stage of your 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: Select and apply practical and/or theoretical techniques or tools from your discipline to conduct an investigation.
  • ULO2: Design and plan a professional cross-disciplinary investigation, using scientific thinking and creative strategies to devise and promote innovation.
  • ULO3: Explain the role and relevance of science in society, using examples from your and other scientific disciplines.
  • ULO4: Plan your next steps after graduation, through an appraisal of personal achievements and the current and projected work environment.
  • ULO5: Explain, with an employment and interview focus, how your study and achievements transfer to other contexts, orally and in writing.
  • ULO6: Work effectively, responsibly and safely, as an individual and as part of a team, applying knowledge of ethical principles and professional conduct.

General Assessment Information

Hurdle Assessments

There are no hurdle assessments in this unit.

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 will be made available when the assessment tasks are released to you on iLearn. 

Submission of Assessments

All assignments must be submitted online through Turnitin unless otherwise indicated. Links for the submission of each assignment will be available on iLearn. The due dates for all assessment tasks are not negotiable. If you have commitments that will significantly impact your study during the session then you must plan for this in advance as part of an effective individual study plan and you may need to contact the unit convenor for advice. 

Marking of Assessments

Assignments will be marked through Turnitin and feedback will be noted on the assignment. Do not submit your assignments via email or in hard copy. Your grades will be returned using the Grades Report on iLearn.

We aim to return your assignments with feedback within two to three weeks of the date that you submit your assignment, and before your next assignment is due. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn when your marked assignments 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 documentation (e.g. medical certificate - see advice for Special Consideration requests). The final decision regarding the granting of an extension and/or a late penalty lies with the unit convenor. Permission for extension must be sought well before the due date unless this is absolutely impossible. 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 flexible in our requirements if you follow this advice.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Pitch an idea 10% No Week 3
Reflection on your skills, knowledge and capabilities 20% No Multiple components due throughout the session
Project presentation 20% No Week 11
Project plan 50% No Week 13

Pitch an idea

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 3
Weighting: 10%

 

Generate a project idea and pitch it as a team via video to a non-expert audience.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain, with an employment and interview focus, how your study and achievements transfer to other contexts, orally and in writing.
  • Work effectively, responsibly and safely, as an individual and as part of a team, applying knowledge of ethical principles and professional conduct.

Reflection on your skills, knowledge and capabilities

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Multiple components due throughout the session
Weighting: 20%

 

Reflective writing relating studies and experiences to future plans.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Plan your next steps after graduation, through an appraisal of personal achievements and the current and projected work environment.
  • Explain, with an employment and interview focus, how your study and achievements transfer to other contexts, orally and in writing.
  • Work effectively, responsibly and safely, as an individual and as part of a team, applying knowledge of ethical principles and professional conduct.

Project presentation

Assessment Type 1: Presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 11
Weighting: 20%

 

Present and pitch a team project via video. Includes formative exercise and peer assessment.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Select and apply practical and/or theoretical techniques or tools from your discipline to conduct an investigation.
  • Design and plan a professional cross-disciplinary investigation, using scientific thinking and creative strategies to devise and promote innovation.
  • Work effectively, responsibly and safely, as an individual and as part of a team, applying knowledge of ethical principles and professional conduct.

Project plan

Assessment Type 1: Plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 27 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 50%

 

Plan for a cross-disciplinary project. Components of peer and self-assessment.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Select and apply practical and/or theoretical techniques or tools from your discipline to conduct an investigation.
  • Design and plan a professional cross-disciplinary investigation, using scientific thinking and creative strategies to devise and promote innovation.
  • Explain the role and relevance of science in society, using examples from your and other scientific disciplines.
  • Work effectively, responsibly and safely, as an individual and as part of a team, applying knowledge of ethical principles and professional conduct.

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 COMMUNICATIONS

Discussion board: In order to discuss issues of relevance to all students, please use the Discussion Board feature of iLearn. The chances are that if you are confused about something in the unit, so are your peers, so it will be useful to share your questions with all. These questions may be regarding the content of the modules (i.e. a concept you don’t understand) or about requirements of the unit.

Email: For matters of a more personal nature, and that do not concern other students (i.e. requests for extensions, etc.), you should contact the Unit Convener, Matt Owers, by email. Contact details are provided at the start of this document.

CLASSES

The class timetable can be found through the Timetable portal. A detailed class schedule with assessment due dates will be made available to all enrolled students through iLearn. Students complete approximately 36 hours of class work (in scheduled workshops or equivalent online) and are expected to undertake 114 hours of personal study, reading and reflection to complete the unit and present the assessment tasks.  Students are responsible for managing their time for learning and the tasks for group work. You will need to bring a laptop computer or tablet to class each week. If this is problematic for you, please contact the unit convenor who will help provide a solution. You will also need to have access to a computer to use the university systems (e.g. iLearn, library) and complete the assessment tasks.

ONLINE MATERIALS

This unit is supported by guided online learning via a series of online components. The link for these components can be found in the iLearn site. Each week you will be expected to complete the component (on a particular theme) for that week in your own study time and before the workshop so that you are familiar with the content. 

WORKSHOPS

Students enrolled in the on-campus offering are expected to attend weekly 3 hour workshops that will be held on campus (where COVID-19 restrictions allow -- further information will be provided on iLearn). Students enrolled in online offerings will complete equivalent activities online, and will be provided with opportunities to interact with each other and unit staff via online meetings. Where in-person workshops occur, they will be very interactive and hands-on, exploring the theme for each week. Make sure that you have completed the weekly pre-workshop online materials before attending the workshop, as they are designed to provide you with a framework and are an essential and important component of the unit. The online learning components are by no means exhaustive on each and every topic, and you are expected to supplement them by conducting your own research and reading. The workshops will be structured as small group discussions and tasks - the more you contribute the more you will learn and gain from this unit. The workshops will also provide time and support for working on the main project in teams.

Unit Schedule

The unit schedule will be available on iLearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/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.

Changes from Previous Offering

Now in its second offering, there has been some turnover of staff (Matt Owers takes over convening from Nathan Daczko , Melanie Bishop replacing Matthew Kosnik), and some tweaking of Assessment weightings (Pitch and Idea: 15% -> 10%, Project Presentation: 25% -> 20%, Reflection blog: 10% -> 20%, Project Plan remains at 50%). Timetabled online sessions were also added for the online cohort.


Unit information based on version 2021.06 of the Handbook