Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in Schedule 1 of the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, which is available at: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

All final grades in the Master of Research are determined by a grading committee and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade plus a Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG). The SNG is not necessarily a summation of the individual assessment components. The final grade and SNG that are awarded reflect the corresponding grade descriptor in the Grading Policy.

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, attempt all assessment tasks, meet any ungraded requirements including professionalism and achieve an SNG of 50 or better.

Student Professionalism

In the Faculty of Medicine, Heath & Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses. As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including tutorials, as well as clinical- and laboratory-based practical sessions.

Furthermore, lectures and seminars are key learning activities that you are expected to attend throughout completion of the Master of Research program. While audio recordings and lecture slides may be made available following these large group sessions, it is important to recognise that such resources are a study aid - and should not be considered an alternative to lecture or seminar attendance.

Students who do not maintain adequate attendance (greater than or equal to 80% of scheduled classes) may be deemed unable to meet expectations regarding professionalism and may be referred for disciplinary action (which may include exclusion from assessments and unit failure).  Similarly, as part of developing professionalism, students are expected to submit all work by the due date. Applications for assessment task extensions must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via ask.mq.edu.au. For further details please refer to the Special Consideration Policy available at https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

Late Submission

All assignments which are officially received after the due date, and where no extension has been granted, will incur a deduction of 10% for the first day, and 10% for each subsequent day including the actual day on which the work is received. Weekends and public holidays are included.

For example:

Teaching Platforms

In 2021 content will be delivered via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous electronic media. Unless otherwise indicated on iLearn, Lectures will be prerecorded and embedded on iLearn; Tutorials and Workshops will be delivered in person or, in some cases, via electronic conferences tools such as Zoom. Some content will be delivered using the Flipped Classroom approach, in which students are provided with a topic and relevant resources and asked to prepare oral or written content on that topic. Instructions will be provided in advance on iLearn. Questions can be directed to teaching staff, other students or the unit convenor via iLearn.

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will generally require students to have access to an internet-connected tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.

Required Unit Materials

All students are required to wear closed shoes and a lab coat/gown to attend practical classes and assessments in a laboratory venue.

Recommended Readings

Unit readings for this unit are available via iLearn.

Lectures

Each week students will receive two 1-hour lectures by an expert in the field. Lectures will be delivered online in precorded video format or students will prepare their own material on a topic in a Flipped format, using resources provided in advance. Flipped classrooms will use synchronouse video (e.g. Zoom) or asynchronous text (e.g. iLearn Forum) technologies. Students are required to read the learning material associated with each lecture available via iLearn in advance and to participate in discussion.

Journal Club

Journal Club is a commonly used method of developing researchers' critical thinking and presentation skills while familiarising them with the recent scientific literature. The format is an hour-long student-led discussion: each week a different student is rostered to select a recently published research article, which they will distribute in advance to other members of the group. At Journal Club the Presenting Student gives an overview of the Background, Methods and Results of the paper, with visual guides as appropriate, and leads a critique of the paper. Journal Club is an interactive activity - the Presenter is supposed to lead the discussion, but all members of the group are expected to contribute to the conversation. 

The Unit Convenor will explain the format, provide an example presentation, and develop a roster for subsequent presentations.

Workshops/Tutorials

Each week students will participate in a 1-hour workshop related to the learning activities for that week. This will involve computer and wet laboratory visits that may include handling human and animal specimens, prerecorded or synchronous online discussions, or in-person tutorials.