Assessment Presentation and Submission Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when you submit each assignment:

• The assignment title page should include the student’s name, student number, unit code, title of the assessment and submitted word count.
• Allow a left and right-hand margin of at least 2cm in all assignments.
• Please type all assignments using a minimum of Arial, 12-point font and 1.5 spacing.
• All assignments must be submitted through Turnitin as an accessible word document – do not submit as a pdf.
• Faculty assignment cover sheets are NOT required.
• It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all assignments are successfully submitted through Turnitin (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/systems/ilearn/assignments-grades).

Draft Submissions and Turnitin Similarity Reports

Students must use the Turnitin Similarity Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing and, in consideration of the report outcome, attend to any potential academic integrity issues, prior to submission of the final version of the assignment. Students are strongly encouraged to upload a draft copy of each assignment to Turnitin at least one week prior to the due date to obtain a Similarity Report. The Similarity 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.

Please note:

• Students should regularly save a copy of all assignments before submission.
• Students are responsible for checking that their submission has been successful and has been submitted by the due date and time.
• It is not the responsibility of unit staff to contact students who have failed to submit assignments.  If you have any missing items of assessment, it is your responsibility to make contact with the unit convenor. 
• For written assignments in SPED8910 submission of a Turnitin Similarity Report is NOT required.

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/assessment-exams/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.

University policy on grading

SPED8909 is a pass/ fail unit. In order to meet the unit outcomes and successfully pass this unit, students must make a genuine attempt at all assessment tasks. Students who demonstrate a 'Graduate' level of competency in their Professional Experience will be awarded an Ungraded Pass. Students will be awarded a Pass/ Fail grade according to guidelines set out in the policy: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=17

Assignments will be awarded a grade 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

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. Please also contact the Course Director Sue Silveira on 0477202129 or susan.silveira@mq.edu.au, prior to withdrawing, for advice related to your progression.

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.

Information about the unit iLearn site

SPED8909 has a full web presence through iLearn.The iLearn site is available ahead of Session 2 to facilitate the completion and uploading of all Mandatory Check Forms. All other requirements for this unit begin Session 2 Week 1, 2022. Students are expected to access the iLearn site and engage with unit materials regularly during Session 2.

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.

Structure

This unit includes 2 online tutortrial days. In the tutorials students will present their learning from their Professional Expereinces in relation to the Unit Learning Outcomes and their chosen Focus Areas. There will be a supporting information on the iLearn site.

Unit Schedule for SPED8909

The unit is divided into a series of topics; the materials are open for the entirety of the session:

• Completion of Critical Reflection Tool (prior to starting Professional Experience block 1
• Completion of Focus Area planning, setting of individual SMART learning goals and outline of literature review (prior to starting Professional Experience)
• Professional Experience placements (online/ observations) in 2 blocks of 6 days plus 2 online tutorial presentation at the end of block 1 and block 2
• Submission of block 1 ePortfolio with mid-term reflection post and block 2/ FINAL ePortfolio with end-session reflection post

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