Assessment Presentation and Submission Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when you submit each assignment:

● Allow a left and right-hand margin of at least 2cm in all assignments. ● Please type all assignments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing. ● All assessments must be submitted through Turnitin in .doc or .pdf format ● It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all assessments are successfully submitted through Turnitin. ● Faculty assignment cover sheets are NOT required.  

Draft Submissions & Turnitin Originality Reports ● Students may use Turnitin’s Originality Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing if this option is made available in the unit. ● Students are strongly encouraged to upload a draft copy of each assessment to Turnitin at least one week prior to the due date to obtain an Originality Report. ● The Originality 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 Originality Report is generated every 24 hours up to the due date.  

Please note: ● Students should regularly save a copy of all assignments before submission. ● Students are responsible for checking that the correct file has been uploaded, that their submission has been successful, and that it 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/my-study-program/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. ● 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.  

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 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 mark of ‘0’ (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue.

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings, etc.). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs, etc.) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special Consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 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://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment-in-effect-from-session-2-2016 

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

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.

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.

Structure

The unit comprises one lecture (prerecorded) and one two-hour tutorial.

Required texts:

Kearns, K. (2021). The Business of Child Care (5th edn.). Cengage. 

You can purchase a hardcopy textbook through Booktopia: https://www.booktopia.com.au/books-online/text-books/textbook-finder/cXC-p1.html 

You can buy an e-book from Cengage direct. If you purchase through Cengage, use discount code WOW10 to receive a 10% discount. https://au.cengage.com/c/the-business-of-child-care-5e-kearns/9780170445528/?searchIsbn=9780170445528

Students will access additional required readings from the Leganto link on the unit iLearn page.

Lectures Lectures will be available through Echo in iLearn from the following website link: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au - there are no synchronous lectures in this unit.

PowerPoint slides are available in iLearn in advance of the weekly lecture and/or are available in the Active Learning Tool.

Tutorials (for weekday students) begin in Week 1 of Session.

In the tutorial students will discuss issues and questions arising from the lectures and prescribed readings. Students are required to participate in small group activities, whole class discussion, and to read the weekly material in advance. Activities completed during weekly tutorials (weekday) or on campus days (infrequent) are essential for building the core knowledge and/or skills required to demonstrate the learning outcomes of this unit [and to meet the AITSL Graduate Teacher Standards and/or ACECQA requirements]. Attendance at all tutorials or on campus days is expected and the roll will be taken. Students are required to attend the tutorial in which they are enrolled. Any changes to tutorial enrolments must be completed officially through e-student. Please do not contact the unit convenor requesting a change.

School of Education Relevant Documents The information in this Unit Guide must be read in conjunction with the following documents available for download from iLearn: • Academic Honesty Handbook • Unit Reading & Assessment Guides

Information about the unit iLearn site This unit has a full web presence through iLearn. Students will need regular access to a computer and the Internet to complete this unit. Weekly access to iLearn is compulsory for all students. Important assessment information will be posted here, as will other relevant unit notices and materials, including a reading template and guide to lecture note taking to assist your studies. Various activities and materials for discussion and critical reflection are included and infrequent students especially are encouraged to use this web component. 

The unit iLearn page also contains a discussion forum. Weekday and infrequent students are expected to access the discussion forum for peer interaction, support and general questions directed to the unit coordinator. The unit coordinator will monitor the website regularly but the discussion board is essentially provided for students to talk with each other. The logon for the web site can be found at: https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/Ilearn is used to communicate general announcements and provide a forum for discussion about unit content. All students are expected to visit this site regularly (at least once each week) to keep up to date with announcements and postings, and to communicate with peers enrolled in this unit. It is expected that all postings made on iLearn will relate to the Unit and will be done respectfully and constructively. 

Access and technical assistance Information for students about access to the online component of this unit is available at https://ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/index.php. 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 full schedule will be available in the Assessment Guide and on iLearn once session begins.

All students are expected to have listened to the weekly lecture and completed all assigned readings BEFORE tutorials or on-campus sessions.

Weekday students: weekly in-person tutorials will be held on Mondays from 3-5pm in room 226, 12 Second Way.

Infrequent students: on-campus days for this unit will be held on Saturday August 13 from 9am - 2pm, AND Saturday October 29 from 9am - 2pm. Room details will be posted on the Unit iLearn page closer to the on-campus dates. Sessions run at the on-campus day will provide infrequent students with the opportunity to clarify unit content and undertake activities similar to those covered in the tutorials for weekday students. They are essential to student engagement and learning and attendance on both days is expected. Failure to attend, or to have an approved Special Consideration Request for nonattendance, may result in a Fail grade for the unit. Infrequent students are expected to have listened to the weekly lectures and completed all assigned readings up to the date of the on-campus days.

EDST 3160 was first offered in S2, 2022. It is based on and updates material previously covered in ECHE4350 in line with requirements of the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority.

The 5Rs Framework, developed by the Macquarie School of Education, is embedded throughout your teacher education course. Your use of the 5Rs Framework will help you develop the capabilities that will make your teaching career sustainable and fulfilling. In this unit, you will learn using the 5Rs Framework in the following important ways:

Reflexive: Assessment tasks one and two require you to reflect on the theoretical and practical aspects of the early childhood directors' role and consider how these aspects might inflect your own leadership.

Resilience: Assessment task three requires you to demonstrate your understandings of leadership in early childhood and what strategies will support ongoing resilience in these roles.