• 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 clear marking scheme or a rubric.
• 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.

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 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.

Required and recommended texts

The readings for each of the 4 Modules are available through the Library's LEGANTO (access in iLearn). Details of the required readings will be on iLearn. You also have access to a range of support resources to assist your project (see LEGANTO). 

Information about the unit iLearn site 

EDST8040 is taught fully online and 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 essential for all students and the Unit is organised into a Modular framework with weekly sections.

Various activities and materials for discussion and critical reflection are included and all work is conducted through the iLearn site. Electronic links and suggested references will be included in the Resources section. Please check the iLearn unit weekly.

The lectures for each Module are available on the web through the ECHO360 lecture component.

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.  Assistance is available from IT Helpdesk.

No extensions can be given for technical issues, please allow enough time for your submissions.

Ph: 9850 4357 or 1800 67 4357   Email: help.mq.edu.au.    On Campus: Ground floor at 18 Wally’s Walk

Unit Schedule

There are 4 Modules for EDST8040:

1. Exploration and Identification of key issues within educational contexts       Weeks 1-4
2. Research and evidence within educational contexts    Weeks 5 -8
3. Building change and innovation in an educational context    Weeks 9-11
4. Scholarship: professional application to an educational context  Weeks 12-13

Each Module, you work flexibly through iLearn as independent work over the set time period:

• Listen to the recorded lecture;
• Access the set readings in Leganto;
• View any additional video material that is included; and
• Contribute to a Discussion Forum in response to “Conversations Starters” based on the specific Module focused content

Ongoing

Guide the development of your individual project with library research and reading.

EDST8040 was redeveloped and completely revised for Session 1, 2023 with ongoing reviews in Session 2, 2023 and for Session 1, 2024.

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:

•Responsive: to students, colleagues. parents and professional communities. Teaching is a relational profession. The best teachers make deep positive connections and engage their students through these connections and by their recognisable care for students' wellbeing and learning success. The Unit also requires your responsiveness to your specific educational context and the exploration of a key issue located in that context.

•Research engaged: Effective teaching is based on evidence and this can come from teachers' own research in the classroom and the latest academic research. A critical understanding of data is essential, allowing it to be analysed and woven back into practice. Keeping up with the current educational issues and policies and practices is also important for ongoing career development. This Unit provides the opportunity for your own research informed investigation.