Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenors.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

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

Late Submission

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 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A one-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For example:

For any late submissions 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.

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including online modules, face-to-face classes and practical research. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Delivery

The practical research placements make up the majority of contact hours within this unit. These placements may include work within the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences laboratory (when COVID restrictions allow it) or work with other teams within other settings within the Faculty. 

Technology Used

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

Required Unit Materials

For placements in laboratories within the Macquarie Medical School you are required to wear closed shoes that cover the whole foot and a laboratory gown/coat (which is provided) whilst in the laboratory venue.

Online training modules and laboratory inductions

If you need access to the laboratory for your research you will be required to complete online training modules and a face-to-face laboratory induction.

Recommended Readings

Details of recommended readings will be provided by supervisors in the host research group. You should use this material to actively seek further reading through searching the current literature (e.g. research articles and reviews) using tools such as PubMed, Scopus, and/or GoogleScholar. This material should supplement and extend your understanding of the research topic and assist in preparation of assessed material.

Research Documentation

You should keep a laboratory book or research diary for documentation of your day-to-day work, including details such as experimental methods, observations, results, analysis, and conclusions. This document will be assessed within your Research Engagement assessment task. This document serves as an important written record in research and may be used to guide future work in your host group and will remain the property of the research group at the end of the placement.

Week 1: You will nominate your list of preferred research projects from a provided booklet. You will be notified of your allocated research project.

Weeks 2-11 (excluding session break): You will work on a research project under the supervision of a research team. You may be required to undertake online laboratory and/or ethics training modules to commence your project.

Weeks 1, 2, 4, 10, 12 and 13:  You will have classes or workshops scheduled to help with assessment tasks.

To better reflect the amount of time and effort required to complete the tasks the weighting of the assessment tasks was modified.

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and 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 clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.