Where can I find out more detailed information about assignments?

Please consult the folder in the GEOP8075 iLearn page labelled 'Assessment'. Here you will find more detailed instructions for each assessment item, marking criteria and rubrics. The assessment folder contains links to useful resources and guides. You are encouraged to post questions about assignments in the General Discussion Forum on the main iLearn page.

Quiz

A quiz  will be given in Week 9.  The quiz will be a mix of multiple choice, or true/false type questions, and short format answers. The quiz is a time sensitive task that will be available for a limited amount of time on iLearn.   No late submissions or time extensions will be accepted for the quiz unless you have an approved special consideration request.

Group task - Putting planning principles into practice

This assignment is a mixture of group and individual assessment. There is class-time dedicated to this task so that your group has an opportunity to work together on the assignment. Please note that 50% of the mark for the 'putting planning principles into practice task' is individually assessed. The individual component of the task requires you to submit a 800-word summary of three readings that you have individually selected and analysed for the group project - this should be written in your own words and reflect your unique contribution to the development of the planning principles.  You will be required to submit your written summary to Turnitin in iLearn by 1pm on Tuesday 4 April.

The remaining 50% of the group project mark will be based on the quality of the group project and the presentation of your planning principles.  The group projects must be ready to present in class in Week 7. Students enrolled for in person attendance will present in class, while students enrolled in online-flexible will submit a Zoom recording of their presentation by the beginning of the timetable class.

Submitting your assignments

Unless otherwise specified, you are required to submit your assignments by the time and date provided in this Unit Guide via the Turnitin link provided in iLearn. Please keep an electronic copy of your assignment and a record of your submission for reference. 

Late assessment 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. 

Assessment marks and feedback

Individual marks and feedback to students will be provided via Turnitin. Feedback will include the rubric, intext comments and general feeback. You are encouraged to utilise these resource to develop your skills in subsequent assessments.

GEOP8075 is available as in person/ on-campus (internal) or online-flexible (external) offerings depending on the stream you have enrolled in.

For on-campus students the unit is delivered as a postgraduate seminar/workshop.  Unless advised otherwise, the first hour of class will be delivered as a pre-recorded Echo360 lecture in iLearn. You are required to listen to the lecture before attending class each week.  For the second part of the seminar you should attend the workshop in the timetabled room - details will be provided on iLearn. The classes comprise a mix of structured activities, small group work, guest presentations and discussion of the weekly readings. Class time has also been set aside for assignment preparation, individually and in groups. 

Online flexible (external) students will have the prerecorded lecture (available by the timetabled class) and resources and activities available each week on iLearn under the label "Online-flexible option". These activities are self directed and it is up to individual students to manage their time to undertake the work.

Unit readings can be accessed via Leganto.  The Leganto link is located in the top right panel of the GEOP8075 iLearn main page.  Please contact Linda if you are having trouble accessing the readings as they are essential to your assignments and to the class discussions.

The GEOP8075 iLearn page contains additional resources in the 'Assessment' folder and under the weekly topic headings.  Please make sure that you regularly check the iLearn page and your Macquarie University student email for updates and information regarding this unit.

This is the schedule of topics to be addressed in the unit. The order may change if circumstances require it, and any updates will be shown on iLearn.

Week 1.     Introduction, and the role of planners and the public interest

Week 2.     Planning in the public domain

Week 3.     Development and placemaking

Week 4.     Planning principles

Week 5.     Planning and participation 

Week 6.     Placemaking practices

Week 7.     Student presentations - Planning principles assessment

Week 8.     Planning systems and urban governance

Week 9.     NSW planning system; governance and ethics

Week 10.   Development assessment

Week 11.   Planning in action: Field trip

Week 12.   Field trip debrief

Week 13.   No lecture or workshop: Report due