Please refer to unit iLearn site for more detailed information about assessment tasks.

Assessment Presentation and Submission Guidelines

• Students should be aware of and apply the University policy on academic honesty (see: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=3) 

• All assessments are submitted electronically. Turnitin plagiarism detection software is used to check all written assessments. 

• Students can use Turnitin’s Originality Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing if this option is made available in the unit. 

• Students should carefully check that they submit the correct file for an assessment as no re-submissions will be accepted after the due date and time, including instances where students upload an incorrect file in error. 

• Word limits are strictly applied. Work above the word limit will not be marked.  

• All assessments are marked using a rubric. 

• Marking of all assessments is moderated by the Unit Convenor. 

Assignment extensions and late penalties

• Applications for extensions must be made via AskMQ (https://ask.mq.edu.au/).  

• It is not the responsibility of unit staff to contact students who have failed to submit assessments.  If you have any missing items of assessment, it is your responsibility to make contact with the unit convenor. 

• 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.
• 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. 
• 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.

Quiz Assessments

Online quizzes are an individual assessment task and MUST BE COMPLETED by each student individually. Similarities in responses between students will be checked and investigated for possible collusion. Please see the Academic Integrity policy for more information.

Requesting a re-assessment of an assignment

If you have evidence that your task has been incorrectly assessed against the grade descriptors you can request a re-mark. To request a re-mark you need to contact the unit convenor within 7 days of the date of return of the assignment and provide a detailed assessment of your script against the task criteria. Evidence from your assignment must be provided to support your judgements.

Note: 

• Please do not request a re-mark for a Failed assessment as they are all double-marked as a part of the moderation process.  

• The outcome of a re-mark may be a higher/lower or unchanged grade.  

• Grades are standards referenced and effort is NOT a criterion.  

University policy on grading

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 this requirement is not met you will be awarded an FA grade with a maximum mark of 45.

Students will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the assessment policy: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment-in-effect-from-session-2-2016

In order to ensure clear distinctions between grades, final marks of 49, 64, 74 and 84 will not be used. The following generic grade descriptors provide university-wide standards for awarding final grades.

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.

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.

Required and recommended texts

Prescribed Text:

Hoffnung, M., Hoffnung, J., Seifert, K., Hine, A., Pause, C., Ward, L., Signal, T., Swabey, K., Yates, K., & Burton Smith, R. (2023). Lifespan development (5th Australasian edition).  Wiley.

Note: It is also fine to use the 4th edition of Hoffnung et al. (2019). Lifespan development (4th Australasian edition).

In addition to chapters from the text, there are supplementary weekly readings associated with some topics (available through library/Leganto unit readings) - refer to iLearn for details.

Unit Structure

The unit comprises weekly online lectures and a two-hour weekly seminar for Internal (Weekday) students. All lecture content in this unit is pre-recorded and available in the relevant section for each topic within the topic 'book' sections (NB: Unlike other units, lectures are not accessed via ECHO360) .

Discussion forums are provided for students discuss issues and questions arising from the lectures, tasks and prescribed readings. Students are expected to base their arguments/discussions on evidence from published research and other relevant material. Students are required to participate in small group activities and whole class discussion, to read the weekly material in advance, and to complete brief tasks. Seminar and online tasks are supported by a Student workbook (available on iLearn). 

Information about the weekly program for the course with the accompanying readings/ preparation is available on the following pages and on the unit iLearn site.

Attendance Requirements

Students studying fully online will work their way through the weekly tasks and workbook independently. Online students will also be required to particpate in one online (Zoom) session - this is an essential session related to the assessments tasks. 

Completion of workbook tasks is expected.  There will be a supporting website for the unit providing additional readings, links and materials. 

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 there, 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 external students especially are encouraged to use this web component. Electronic links and suggested references will be included in the Resources section. Please check the iLearn unit regularly.

Access and technical assistance

Information for students about access to the online component of this unit is available at ilearn.mq.edu.au/login/MQ/. 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.

Support resources

Macquarie University has a range of services for students. If you are struggling with any aspect of academic life or career trajectory and skills, we have great supports within the university. Please refer to the comprehensive list of support services here.

The following is a summary of the lectures for this unit, available through the ECHE/ ECHX6020 unit web site.  The lecture series follows a specific sequence and have three main areas of focus: Theories of Development, Foundations of Development and Domains of Development. Note: these lectures are embedded within the weekly topic sections (not ECHO360).

Assessment tasks revised

The 5Rs Framework, developed by the School of Education at Macquarie University, 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:

Resilient:

• Assignment feedback aims to focus on development of academic skills and critical thinking to encourage students to use feedback on assignments to improve performance. 

Reflexive:

• Tutorial activities encourage examination of alternative interpretations of developmental research and critical thinking about own future role and implications for practice. 

Responsive:

•  In tutorials students engage in practical activities to consider how children's early experiences impact development and later outcomes for children and examine ways of providing optimal environments and expereinces for children to support positive outcomes. 

Ready to Learn: 

•  Students are supported to develop an understanding that research provides the evidence base to inform practice and to identify strategies for supporting children's development. 

Research Engaged: 

• Lectures cover research methods used in child development research including specific reference to findings from the major longitudinal studies of child development (e.g. NICHD, LSAC & LSIC).

• The major assignment requires students to engage with recent child development research and suggest implications for practice based on the research evidence.