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 (e.g. in a rubric) will be made available when the assessment tasks and instructions are released to you on iLearn. 

Submission of Assessments

All assessments must be submitted online through Turnitin unless otherwise indicated. Links for the submission of each assessment will be available on iLearn.​ 

You should always check that you have uploaded the correct file. If you have a problem, please email the Unit Convenor with your correct file. You must also keep a copy of your assessments until the end of semester in case there is a problem with your submission. It is your responsibility to ensure that you can provide a copy of your assessment if requested.

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

From 1 July 2022, Students enrolled in Session based units with written assessments will have the following university standard late penalty applied. Please see https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/assessments for more information. 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7^th day (including weekends). After the 7^th day, a grade of '0' will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. 

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.  

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted 

In this unit, late submissions will accepted as follows: 

• Environmental Management Question – YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 
• Environmental Assessment Report - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies
• Stakeholder Debate - NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted 
• Exam - NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted 

Marking of Assessments

Assessments will usually be marked through Turnitin with grades provided through Gradebook on iLearn. Please do not submit your assessments via email or in hard copy unless requested (e.g. a sketch or drawing).

We aim to return your assessment grades and feedback within two to three weeks of the date that you submitted it. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn when your marked assessments and feedback are available for viewing.

Exams

Details of exam conditions and timetables can be found on the Exams and Results portal. The draft exam timetable will be released approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the exams. The final exam timetable will be published around 4 weeks before commencement. All students (including exchange students) are expected to present themselves for the exam at the time and place designated in the exam timetable. Note this may include weekends.

For unavoidable disruptions during exams, you should apply for Special Consideration as soon as possible. If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process, the exam time will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period and you will receive an individual notification prior to the exam with the exact date and time of the Supplementary Examination. You will only be allowed one opportunity to sit the Supplementary Exam as outlined in the Special Consideration Policy

Unit iLearn

This unit has an iLearn page that can be accessed through ilearn.mq.edu.au. It contains important information and other materials relating to the unit, including details and links for assessments.

Communication

The unit iLearn is the primary way that we communicate with you. Please check it regularly for announcements and posts. You are encouraged to use the Discussion Board on iLearn to post questions and generate discussion with other students. Please only email the convenor with private matters – all other questions should be posted on iLearn.

Unit Organisation and Unit Schedule

This unit is organised into three modules:

• Module 1 - Australia's unique environment and the need to manage the impacts of people on the environment. This module examines some of the physical environmental management challenges posed by people and Australia's unique environment. For example, the impacts of bushfire management on vegetation communities, and the impacts of urban areas on streams.
• Module 2 - The role of policy, planning and legislation as effective tools in environmental protection and management. This module focuses on how policy, planning and legislation impacts on the environment through strategic planning, development controls and day-to-day decision-making. This module will tie together your understanding of the physical environment and some of the tools that are used to prevent or manage environmental impacts in urban areas.
• Module 3 - Importance of implementing strategies that engage people as part of the solution to environmental problems. This module explores several themes in environmental management and decision-making including, ways of engaging people in environmental protection and management issues, identifying stakeholders, negotiation and the decision-making processes that are used to resolve environmental conflicts. This module will demonstrate the social/political challenges and complexities of environmental management.

The content in the unit is conveyed through weekly lectures and practicals. The organisation of these is outlined in a detailed unit schedule which is available on iLearn. 

We use multiple approaches in teaching and delivery, including blended learning and experiential learning, such as reading texts, watching videos, listening to audio resources, visiting field sites, participating in class activities and online discussion forums. The emphasis is on enabling students to understand and apply various techniques used in environmental management.

Class Timetable

The class timetable for this unit can be found through the Timetable portal.

All lectures in the unit are online via Zoom. The lectures will be interactive with time at the end for Q&A and discussion.

The practicals will be held on-campus. Please check the unit schedule carefully as some weeks may have other instructions or require you to meet in a different location. Any updates or changes to the unit or classes will be announced through iLearn.

Workload

The expected workload for this 10 credit point unit is 150 hours of activity, comprising of lectures, practicals, completion of assessments and individual study.

Requirements to complete this unit satisfactorily

To complete this unit satisfactorily, you must:

1. Attend all scheduled classes;
2. Complete all assessments; and
3. Achieve a pass grade or higher.

The descriptions for grades common to all coursework units offered by Macquarie University are outlined in the Assessment Policy.

Recommended Texts and/or Materials

There is no specific textbook for this unit. You will be required to research information independently and consult a wide variety of information sources to aid your learning in this unit.

Referencing

In this unit, the preferred style of referencing is Harvard (author, date). For further details on the Harvard style, go to: https://libguides.mq.edu.au/referencing/Harvard

Technology Used and Required

This unit will use iLearn and Echo360. See the Instructions on how to log in to iLearn and the iLearn quick guides for students which will help you:

• Getting started - Find out how to navigate and familiarise yourself with the iLearn environment
• Activities - Learn how to effectively complete the activities required of you in iLearn
• Assignments and Gradebook - Find out how to submit assessments and view your grades using iLearn
• Online study tips - Studying online is a unique experience, learn how to navigate it here
• Discussion forums - Explore the different types, and features of discussion forums in iLearn
• Lecture recordings - Find out how to access lectures online, as well as the features available to you