Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit you must:

• Achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%, and
• Participate in at least 9 of the 12 weekly practical classes

Hurdle Assessments

Assessment 1: Practical participation (0%)

Development of knowledge and skills requires continual practice at authentic problems in a laboratory-based setting. This unit has weekly laboratory classes, and you must demonstrate your progress in developing and communicating knowledge and skills in a minimum of 9 of the 12 classes. This is a hurdle assessment meaning that failure to meet this requirement may result in a fail grade for the unit. Students are permitted up to three absences: additional absences will require a Special Consideration to be applied for (see below).

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted

Practical Reports –  YES, Standard Late Penalty applies 

Tests and quizzes – NO, unless Special Consideration is Granted 

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a report is not submitted, up until the 7^th day (including weekends). After the 7^th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 10:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern.

For late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams and/or weekly quizzes, please apply for Special Consideration.

Special Consideration

The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment.

Weekly practical: To pass the unit you need to demonstrate ongoing development of skills and application of knowledge in 9 out of 12 of the weekly practical classes. If you miss a weekly practical class due to a serious, unavoidable and significant disruption, contact your convenor ASAP as you may be able to attend another class that week.

If it is not possible to attend another class, you should still contact your convenor to schedule a make-up practical. Note that a Special Consideration should only be applied for if you miss more than three of the weekly practical classes.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled by the faculty during a supplementary exam period, typically about 3 to 4 weeks after the normal exam period. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Assessment Tasks

Assignments will usually be submitted and marked on iLearn. Weekly lab reports (practical class) will be submitted via dedicated Tunitin links and weekly problem sets are handled using iLearn quizzes. Feedback for your lab group members is conducted using SparkPlus. Grades are reported through Gradebook. Please do not submit your assessments via email or in hard copy unless requested.

Quiz results are released automatically after the submission deadline. We aim to return grades and feedback for lab reports (and tests) within two weeks of the date that you submitted it. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn or in lecture when your marked assessments and feedback are available for viewing.

The first week of class will include lecture, tutorial (STGA) and practical classes. So, make sure you have enrolled in one of the practical classes and one the tutorials. More information will be given in the first lecture.

We recommend students have a scientific calculator and a lab notebook. You will also need closed toed shoes and appropriate clothing for practical classes in the soil mechanics lab. You will also need access to a computer with excel to perform some data reduction tasks. A laptop or tablet is useful but not required.

Communication

Outside of class, we will communicate with students primarily through iLearn announcements and occasionally using your university email. Queries to convenors can either be placed on the iLearn discussion board or sent to CIVL2201@mq.edu.au from your university email address.

COVID Information

The pandemic continues and new strains continue to evolve and spread in waves. Mask wearing is strongly encouraged during all practical classes in 13RPD. Students are also strongly encouraged to wear masks in all other indoor gatherings and to obtain their vaccine boosters where appropriate.

For the latest information on the University’s response to COVID-19, please refer to the Coronavirus infection page on the Macquarie website: https://www.mq.edu.au/about/coronavirus-faqs

Here is a rough outline of the topics covered:

Week 1: Rocks and Minerals

Week 2: Rock Types and Weathering

Week 3: Deposition and Tectonics

Week 4: Hazards and Soil Intro

Week 5: Index Tests and Classification

Week 6: Clays and Structure

Week 7: Capillarity and Stress

Week 8: Compaction

Week 9: Water Flow

Week 10: Consolidation

Week 11: Settlement Time

Week 12: Mohr's Circle and Failure

Week 13: Shear Strength

Changes from 2023

• Changes to tutoring Staff
• Some modifications of class schedule
• Addressed LEU suggestions
• Minor edits to quiz questions