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 non-timed written assessments (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc) is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams/quizzes, 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.

POIR8000 is designed to be largely self directed. The unit consists of four modules with resources and activities provided through iLearn. For each module, there will be:

• A pre-recorded lecture which all students are required to listen to.
• A 2-hour seminar that will be held for on campus students and recorded for online students. These seminars are opportunities to discuss questions about the readings and lectures. However the main use of the seminar is to undertake a practice-based activity about an aspect of doing 'policy work',  related to the module topic. All students will have an opportunity to ask questions in advance. Regardless of mode of enrolment, (On-campus, Online-Flexible or OUA),  all students are encouraged to attend. 

Seminars will be held in Weeks 2, 5, 9 and 12. Modules are organised to allow time in the first week of each module to read the set material and identify questions. The second week will include the seminar. Comments and responses in the discussion forums will be made in the second and third week.

• Additional drop-in zoom sessions as required. These will be organised with students at the commencement of semester at a time which is of convenience to the largest number of students. These are informal and provide an opportunity for students to ask questions of the teaching staff and to share ideas with each other.

The unit is organised around four modules, each lasting three weeks.

1. What is a policy problem? Defining problems and stakeholders.

2. Where do policy ideas come from?

3. Policy Instruments and Implementation

4. Communication, evaluation and redesign

Each module runs for three weeks:

• In week 1 students are expected to read the set material and identify and post a question about the readings.
• In week 2 students are expected to listen to the lecture, attend the seminar (for on-campus students, but all students are encouraged to attend) and make a substantive post about the module topic (substantive posts are required for two of the four modules only).
• In week 3, the focusis on the group activity. For Module 1, this will be devoted to identifying your case study and forming groups. For Modules 2-4, there will be an activity that guides you through applying the concepts from the module to your case study. You undertake the activity in your group, and for each module one group member will post to the discussion forum dedicated to the group activity.

Please note this cycle, which is repeated across each of the four modules.