• Students should be aware of and apply the University policy on academic honesty (see: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=3)
• Unless a Special Consideration (see: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/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.
• Please format assessments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing.
• 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 or a clear marking scheme.
• Marking of all assessments is moderated by the Unit Convenor.
• 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.

Units with 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.

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. For Professional Experience units the PE Report is marked as satisfactory or unsatisfactory and the Teaching Performance Assessment (in final PE units) is marked as not meets, meets or exceeds. 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.

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 course 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.

Assessment Tasks

QUIZ

The online quiz comprises 20 multiple-choice questions, each with four alternatives. It assesses your understanding and application of Week 1-4 content. The quiz takes 23 minutes. The quiz will be completed online via iLearn and must be completed individually. It is critical that you make yourself available at the time specified.

RESEARCH REPORT

Education is a scholarly discipline, and research is critical. Good teachers use research findings as part of an everyday evidence-based approach to practice, and conduct their own research to troubleshoot problems that occur (Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 1999; Everton et al., 2002). To ensure that we develop strong educational research skills amongst our EDUC2620 cohort, we will conduct our own research project examining an educational psychology topic. For this report, you will be assessed on your ability to engage with and synthesise relevant research, explain the findings of research, and discuss education and classroom applications. 

Complete instructions for this assessment are available on the iLearn page. The rubric for this assessment is available on the iLearn page. 

*Note that the assignment is completed in two parts, with the data coding task due before the main assignment.  

Writing Your Report

• We will provide a research report template on iLearn. This reduces the working memory load related to the report structure and allows you to attend to the report content itself.
• We will write some sections of the report for you. These are pre-filled in the research report template on iLearn. You simply fill in the rest.

Referencing

• You are expected to use APA referencing style in your research report.
• An APA referencing guide can be accessed through the Library’s Multisearch function. It provides tools and templates to assist you to correct format citations in APA 7.
• If you would like additional assistance, the following website is also particularly useful: https://libguides.mq.edu.au/referencing/APA7thEdition

Word Count

• State your word count on your title page. Reports that exceed the word limit by 10% or more will be penalised.
• The reference list is not counted in the word limit, but (i) in-text references, (ii) the abstract, and (iii) pre-filled sections on the report-writing template are.

Weekly Discussion Forum

Students are to contribute to online discussion forums under each topic. The due dates for each task will be 23:55, Tuesdays in most weeks from Week 3 onwards. Specific details will be provided on iLearn. You will be asked to submit your discussion forum posts at the end of the semester using a template provided on iLearn. 

FINAL EXAMINATION

The final exam, held in the formal examination period, is 2 hours long. It is designed to test your ability to apply conceptual knowledge developed throughout the unit. The exam will include a combination of short answer and extended response questions. All modules/topics in the unit will be examinable.

Exam Timing

• Please view the exam timetable at http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/exam . The exam timetable does not typically become available until the mid-session recess. Once it is available, please mark the date in your calendar.
• Please note: EDUC2620 teaching staff do not have any power to change the date and do not know the date in advance.
• You are expected to be available at the time designated in the exam timetable.

Failure to Sit/Attend

• Macquarie University policy requires that no early examinations be set for individuals. Late examinations are only given in exceptional circumstances. Please do not book holidays until you have seen the Exam Timetable.
• The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unexpected and unavoidable misadventure. In these circumstances you must apply for Special Consideration within the window of time indicated in the university policy (see link above).

Required and recommended texts

There are no prescribed textbooks for this unit. Recommended readings will be available via the iLearn page. 

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 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.
• Weekly lectures are available on the iLearn unit page. You must listen to all lectures.
• PowerPoint slides are available in iLearn in advance of the weekly lectures.

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

The unit comprises two one-hour lectures (presented in smaller “podcast formats”) and a one-hour tutorial. 

• Lectures: Lectures will be available through iLearn from the following link: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au. PowerPoint slides are available on iLearn in advance of the weekly lecture. You must listen to the previous lectures before your tutorials. You are welcome to post questions or comments about the lecture via iLearn.
• Tutorials: Attendance at all tutorials is expected and the roll will be taken. Students are required to attend the tutorial in which they are enrolled. Full attendance enables you to demonstrate the learning outcomes of this unit and to meet the AITSL Graduate Teacher Standards. Any changes to tutorial enrolments must be completed officially through e-student. Please do not contact the unit convenor requesting a change.

In the tutorials, students will discuss issues and questions arising from the lectures. They are expected to base their arguments/discussions on evidence from published research and other relevant material. Attendance at all tutorials is expected. 

Students are required to participate in small group activities, whole class discussion, to read the weekly material in advance, and to complete brief tasks either as individuals or in pairs. The weekly program for the course with the accompanying readings/ preparation is available on the unit iLearn site. 

Topics that will be covered in EDUC2620 (please see iLearn page for detailed lecture schedule).

• Information Processing
• Attention
• Memory
• Relationships
• Self and Other Understanding
• Motivation
• Emotions
• Mental Health and Resilience
• Metacognition
• Self-regulation
• Classroom and Teaching Applications

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:

• Resilience: This unit includes Tutorial activities that focus on promoting student well-being and developing teacher resilience  
• Reflexive: Each Tutorial will involve reflections on the connection between content and practice
• Responsive: All Assessments require the ability to identify the implications of research for teaching and how teachers can use research to be more responsive to student needs.
• Ready to learn. Students will learn the foundational and advanced knowledge in the cognitive and social factors of learning and development. This knowledge forms a basis for future learning on how to best support students and their learning. Students are encouraged to see this as a starting point, not an end point.
• Research Engaged: The major assignment involves conducting a research project and writing a research report. There are related Tutorial activities about the importance of research to teaching.