Assessment Presentation and Submission Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when you submit each assignment:

• All assignments must comply with the NextSense Accessible Style Guide
• The assignment title page should include the student name, student number, unit code, title of the assessment and submitted word count.
• Allow a left and right-hand margin of at least 2cm in all assignments.
• Please type all assignments using Arial, 12-point font and 1.5 spacing.
• All assignments must be submitted through Turnitin as an accessible word document – do not submit as a pdf.
• It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all assignments are successfully submitted through Turnitin (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/systems/ilearn).
• For written assignments, the Turnitin Similarity Report must also be submitted using the correct Turnitin submission point at the time of assignment submission.
• Faculty assignment cover sheets are NOT required.

Draft Submissions & Turnitin Similarity Reports

• Students must use the Turnitin Similarity Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing and, in consideration of the report outcome, attend to any potential academic integrity issues, prior to submission of the final version of the assignment.
• Students are strongly encouraged to upload a draft copy of each assignment to Turnitin at least one week prior to the due date to obtain a Similarity Report.
• The Similarity Report provides students with a similarity index that may indicate if plagiarism has occurred. Students will be able to make amendments to their drafts prior to their final submission on the due date.
• Generally, one Similarity Report is generated every 24 hours up to the due date.
• For all written assignments, the Similarity Report must also be submitted using the correct Turnitin submission point.

Please note:

• Students should regularly save a copy of all assignments before submission,
• Students are responsible for checking that their submission has been successful and has been submitted by the due date and time.

Assignment extensions and late penalties

• In general, there should be no need for extensions except through illness or misadventure that would be categorised as serious and unavoidable disruption according to the University definition of same, see:   https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration

• Applications for extensions must be made via AskMQ according to the Special Consideration policy. Extensions can only be granted if they meet the Special Considerations policy and are submitted via https://ask.mq.edu.au/. This will ensure consistency in the consideration of such requests is maintained.

• Late submissions: Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply - 10/100 marks of credit (10% of the total assessment weighting) will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted seven days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessment - e.g. quizzes, online tests. A zero result for the assignment will be recorded after the late submission period has ended if no task has been received.

• If a student is still permitted to submit on the basis of unavoidable disruption, an alternative topic may be set.

• Students should keep an electronic file of all assessments. Claims regarding "lost" assessments cannot be made if the file cannot be produced. It is also advisable to keep an electronic file of all drafts and the final submission on a USB untouched/unopened after submission. This can be used to demonstrate easily that the assessment has not been amended after the submission date.

Requesting a re-assessment of an assignment

If you have evidence that your task has been incorrectly assessed against the grade descriptors you can request a re-mark. To request a re-mark you need to contact the unit convenor within 7 days of the date of return of the assignment and provide a detailed assessment of your script against the task criteria. Evidence from your assignment must be provided to support your judgements.

Note:

• Please do not request a re-mark for a Failed assessment as they are all double-marked as a part of the moderation process.
• The outcome of a re-mark may be a higher/lower or unchanged grade.
• Grades are standards referenced and effort is NOT a criterion.

Online Assessments/Tests

Online quizzes or tests are an individual assessment task and MUST BE COMPLETED by each student individually. Similarities in responses between students will be checked and investigated for possible collusion. Please see the Academic Integrity Policy at: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/academic-integrity.

In submitting your responses to an online quiz you agree that you:

• have not included content that has previously been submitted for academic credit in this or any other unit
• are submitting answers which are your own work
• acknowledge that you are aware of, and are acting in accordance with the Macquarie University Academic Integrity Policy and the standards set out in Schedule 2 (https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=3)
• that you are not participating in any unacceptable academic activities such as cheating, collusion, deception, fabrication, impersonation, obstruction, plagiarism and/or sabotage.

University policy on grading

Criteria for awarding grades for assessment tasks

Assignments will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the University's Grading Policy. The following descriptive criteria are included for your information.

Descriptive Criteria for awarding grades in the unit

In order to meet the unit outcomes and successfully pass this unit, students must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks. Where any submitted assessment task is considered to be unsatisfactory in this regard, the highest possible final grade that can be awarded for the unit will be 45.

Students will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the policy: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=17&version=2

The following generic grade descriptors provide university-wide standards for awarding final grades.

Grade	Descriptor
HD (High Distinction)	Provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application as appropriate to the discipline.
D (Distinction)	Provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.
Cr (Credit)	Provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; convincing argumentation with appropriate coherent justification; communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.
P (Pass).	Provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; routine argumentation with acceptable justification; communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes
F (Fail)	Does not provide evidence of attainment of learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; missing, undeveloped, inappropriate or confusing argumentation; incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.

Note: If you fail a unit with a professional experience component, the fail grade will be on your transcript irrespective of the timing of the placement.

Withdrawing from this unit

If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice via https://ask.mq.edu.au before doing so, as this unit may be a co-requisite or prerequisite for units in the following sessions and may impact on your progression through the degree. Please also contact Sue Silveira on 0298720248 or sue.silveira@nextsense.org.au, prior to withdrawing and for advice related to your progression.

Results

Results shown in iLearn, 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.

SPED8934 has a full web presence through iLearn. All requirements for this unit begin Session 1 Week 1, 2021. Students are expected to access the iLearn site and engage with unit materials regularly during session 1.

Textbook Required for this Unit. 

The prescribed text for this course is “Assessment in Special and Inclusive Education” by Salvia, Ysseldyke, and Witmer (13th Edition, 2017) ( ISBN-10: 1-305-64235-X or ISBN-13:  ISBN-13: 978-1-305-64235-5). Students should note that that this resource is available from a number of different sources on line for purchase or rental and that there is an e-book option available through the publisher's website.

Support Resources

Macquarie University has a range of services for students. If you are struggling with any aspect of academic life or career trajectory and skills, we have great supports within the university.

Please refer to the comprehensive list of support services here.

Access and Technical Assistance

Information for students about access to the online component of this unit is available at  https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/tools-and-resources/ilearn. You will need to enter your student username and password.

Please do NOT contact the Unit Convenor regarding iLearn technical help.

No extensions will be given for any technical issues. Allow enough time for your submissions.

Assistance is available from IT Helpdesk (ph: 1800 67 4357), or log a request at help.mq.edu.au. OneHelp is the online IT support service for both students and staff.

This unit requires students to use several ICT and software skills:

• Internet access: The iLearn site contains materials for this unit; it is also required for the online submission of all Assessment Tasks, and for the use of Turnitin submission for ALL tasks.
• Word processing, visual representations, and document formatting: You are required to use an appropriate form of software to present your assignments.
• Uploading of assessment tasks to iLearn.

A comprehensive schedule of lecture topics and weekly readings is available on the unit iLearn site.

The 5Rs Framework, developed by the School of Education at Macquarie University, is embedded throughout The Master of Disability Studies course.

It is intended that, as a graduate professional, you will be:

1. Resilient;
2. Reflexive in your practice;
3. Responsive to students/clients, colleagues, parents, and professional communities;
4. Ready to learn; and
5. Research engaged.

 In this unit, you will be assisted to develop the 5Rs in the following ways:

Resilient	By developing strengths and strategies in seeking, reviewing, and processing new information. By managing multiple milestone tasks associated with the use of that information for your own learning.
Reflexive	By sharing about your professional experiences and understanding of the topics through discussion forums, and in your responses to the various assessment tasks.
Responsive	By productively and respectfully responding to the ideas of peers and providing meaningful and supportive feedback. By assessing and responding to the learning needs of particular learners who are deaf or hard of hearing tin your assessment tasks.
Ready to Learn	By recognising your own learning needs relative to your current knowledge and pursuing the unit's learning objectives earnestly to ensure that you can go on to achieve positive language and literacy outcomes for the learners that you will work with in the future. By taking responsibility for learning independently as well as fostering collaborative learning in other students.
Research Engaged	By engaging with literature as required and using your own research skills to seek out new information form the research literature to inform your learning and subsequent professional practice. By critically evaluating research studies and other published literature as part of an evidence-based approach to defining and using best practice in language and literacy development for deaf and hard of hearing learners.