Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online 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.
Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Convenor and Lecturer
Kira Westaway
Contact via 98508429
12WW 429
by email appt
Lecturer
Kerrie Tomkins
Contact via 98508357
12WW 434
by email appt
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Credit points |
Credit points
10
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to BEnv
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This core skills-based unit introduces students to the employability and technical skills that are essential for a career in the environmental sciences, and lays the important groundwork for subsequent units in the Bachelor of Environment. The unit is delivered through a series of online modules, masterclasses and practical sessions, aimed at providing a fundamental understanding of what each skill is and why it is important. Opportunities for practical hands-on experience in the field and laboratory are also provided so that each student can being developing their capabilities and confidence in mastering these essential employability and technical skills. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Hurdle Assessments
The learning participation tasks are all Hurdle assessments - they carry no weighting but must be completed to pass this unit. The remaining assessments are three hand-in assessments all carrying a weighting of 20% and a final exam at 40% - none of these assessments are hurdles.
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. Grades from quizzes and the exam will also be made available 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.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Learning and participation tasks (Hurdle) | 0% | Yes | Weeks 1-13 |
Reference list | 20% | No | 11-03-21 |
GPS and map reading | 20% | No | 8-04-21 |
Presentation of figures | 20% | No | 6-05-21 |
Timed assessment | 40% | No | Week 13 |
Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: Weeks 1-13
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)
Completion of online quizzes, peer review, attendance and engagement in an employability event, compliance with work health and safety, and creation of an ePortfolio
Assessment Type 1: Annotated bibliography
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 11-03-21
Weighting: 20%
Compile a reference list using the Harvard style of referencing
Assessment Type 1: Quantitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 8-04-21
Weighting: 20%
Determine different locations using GPS coordinates and maps
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 6-05-21
Weighting: 20%
Create and present good quality figures that are suitable for inclusion in a report or scientific paper
Assessment Type 1: Work-integrated task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 40%
Exam-style timed assessment covering all of the content presented in the unit including the online modules and practicals
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
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.
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 practical so that you are familiar with the content.
PRACTICALS
The practicals are 3 hours, once a week. You are expected to attend your nominated prac every week.
The pracs will be very interactive and hands-on, exploring the theme for each week. Make sure that you have completed the weekly online material before attending the prac, as they are designed to provide you with a framework with which to focus your study of the subject 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 reading. The practicals will be structured as small group discussions and tasks - the more you contribute the more you will learn and gain from this unit. The unit has been designed to start your skills mastery journey and you will be able to document this journey throughout your degree by using an eportfolio platform, which will be introduced discussed and started during the pracs.
FIELDWORK
There is a compulsory 1-day field trip in Week 9 (Saturday 8 May). The location is yet to be decided, but is likely to be within the Sydney region.
ASSESSMENTS
There are 4 assessments overall with different percentage weightings ranging from 20-40%. The first three assessments (Reference list, mapping task and presentation of figures) build on the skills that you will learn in the practicals. The fourth assessment is the online timed exam at 40%, which will examine your understanding of the content covered by the online materials and pracs.
HURDLES
Certain learning and participation tasks are hurdles in this unit - meaning that they must be completed/passed to be able to pass this unit. These include the completion of an online quiz, a peer review activity, attendance and engagement in an employability event, compliance with work health and safety, and the creation of an ePortfolio. These tasks are hurdles because they are vital to your mastery of the skills necessary for a Bachelor of Environment degree and for your future employability.
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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.
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 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
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
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.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
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
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.
This unit is a new offering for 2020 but is strongly based on the Skills mastery material that Kerrie Tomkins and Kira Westaway have been developing for the Department and for the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
Unit information based on version 2021.02 of the Handbook