Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor and Lecturer Kira Westaway kira.westaway@mq.edu.au Contact via 98508429 12WW429 by email appt Lecturer Kerrie Tomkins kerrie.tomkins@mq.edu.au Contact via 98508357 12WW434 by email appt
Credit points	Credit points 10
Prerequisites	Prerequisites Admission to BEnv
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
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.

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: Demonstrate an understanding of the technical and employability skills that are needed to work effectively in environmental roles.
ULO2: Describe why each skill is important and show using examples, how they are applied in different contexts.
ULO3: Achieve a basic level of competency in operating some of the tools and equipment that are commonly used in the office, laboratory and field by environment professionals.
ULO4: Demonstrate professional qualities and behaviours, including expertise in writing a formal email, and compliance with work, health and safety requirements when in the laboratory or in the field.
ULO5: Engage with feedback from others and undertake self-review, reflecting on how these apply to your performance both as an individual and as a team member.
ULO6: Show evidence of skills development by recording achievements in an ePortfolio, and demonstrate an understanding of the transferability of these skills within and between different disciplines.

General Assessment Information

Hurdle Assessments

The learning participation tasks are all Hurdle assessments (7 in total) - 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 timed assessment 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.

Submission deadlines

Online quizzes, in-class activities, or scheduled tests and exam must be undertaken at the time indicated in the unit guide. Should these activities be missed due to illness or misadventure, students may apply for Special Consideration.

All other assessments must be submitted by 5:00 pm on their due date. Should these assessments be missed due to illness or misadventure, students should apply for Special Consideration.

Penalties for Late Assessments

Late assessments are permitted in this unit but the penalty for late submission is ten percent (10 %) of the assessment value per day, calculated from the due time and date. A 12-hour grace period will be given after which the following deductions will be applied to the awarded assessment mark: 12 to 24 hours late = 10% deduction; for each day thereafter, an additional 10% per day or part thereof will be applied until five days beyond the due date. After this time, a mark of zero (0) will be given. For example, an assessment worth 20% is due 5 pm on 1 January. Student A submits the assessment at 1 pm, 3 January. The assessment received a mark of 15/20. A 20% deduction is then applied to the mark of 15, resulting in the loss of three (3) marks. Student A is then awarded a final mark of 12/20. 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
Learning and participation tasks (Hurdle)	0%	Yes	Weeks 1-10
Reference list	20%	No	9-3-22 @ 5 pm
GPS and map reading	20%	No	6-4-22 @ 5 pm
Presentation of figures	20%	No	4-5-22 @ 5pm
Timed assessment	40%	No	Week 13

Learning and participation tasks (Hurdle)

Assessment Type ¹: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task ²: 18 hours
Due: Weeks 1-10
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