Grading and passing requirement for unit

There are weekly pre-lab quizzes, two larger quizzes, and two projects that need to be completed for assessment. In order to pass this unit, a student must submit all assements and obtain a total mark of 50 or more for the unit (i.e. obtain a passing grade P/ CR/ D/ HD), and achieve at least 50% in Quiz 2 and the Major Project Defence. 

For further details about grading, please refer below in the policies and procedures section.

Hurdle Requirements

Quiz 2 assesses the basic skills needed to make a successful attempt at the Major project. Failing to score a grade of 50% or more in the quiz indicates that the student has fallen too far behind to likely to be successful at completing the Major project. At this point, the student is advised to withdraw from the unit. However, if the student remains determined to complete the unit and as a result, passes the Major Project Defense hurdle on the first attempt (described below), the student will be deemed as having passed this hurdle requirement despite not obtaining a mark of 50%.     

The Major Project Defence is an oral examination of the student's ability to explain their final design and implementation of the major project, and justify how their work meets the requirements of the specified task. However, if a student fails to pass the minimum required mark at the first attempt but has passed all other assessments in the unit, you will be offered a second attempt at the Major Project Defence during the supplementary examination period. You will be notified of the exact day and time after the publication of final results for the unit. Prior to the second attempt, you may be required to complete additional work on the Major Project to demonstrate that you have achieved the learning outcomes. The second attempt will be graded as a pass/fail and the maximum grade for the second attempt is the hurdle threshold grade. 

Late submissions and Resubmissions

Resubmission of work is not allowed. 

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 written report or presentation assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern. You should contact your convenor through iLearn for any anticipated issues that might prevent you from a timely submission of work. 

Re-submission for any submitted and/or graded work will not be allowed.

For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration.  Detailed list of assessments where late submissions WILL be accepted but standard late penalties will apply: Minor Project Report

Detailed list of assessments where late submissions WILL NOT be accepted unless Special Consideration is granted: Quiz 1, Minor Project, Quiz 2, Major Project Design Review, Major Project Code and Demonstration, Major Project Defence. 

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. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through ask.mq.edu.au.  

This unit consists of one lecture and one practical sessions per week, starting in Week 1 on campus. Attendance of all lectures and practical sessions is important for successful completion of this unit. Students should plan for in-person attendance each week. Important information regarding unit content and assessments are given during lectures and practical sessions. Students are expected to watch the video recordings on iLearn if they miss a lecture. At times, video recordings of important information conveyed during practical sessions will also be uploaded. Students are expected to watch these when they are made available.  

Time-sensitive information and reminders will also be conveyed using iLearn Announcements. Students are expected to read all announcements regularly. 

All students are expected to have their own Arduino Uno and select electronic components. A kit of parts is available for purchase from the University at less than cost price, or the student can bring their own kit as long as it has an Arduino Uno and sufficient components. A list of required components will be supplied on iLearn. Students will also need a laptop computer with MPLab X IDE and Arduino software installed. It is preferable that the computer be running Windows 10. Students with Mac laptops are highly encouraged to install Boot Camp and run Windows 10 natively. You will also need access to Zoom for the oral examination. 

A list of recommended textbooks can be found on Leganto or in iLearn. Students will also need to refer to component datasheets which will be provided on iLearn. 

If students require additional help with understanding of unit material or clarification of assessment requirements when studying at home, the student should post their question to the General Discussion Forum on iLearn. Unit convenors will typically answer these questions within one-two business days. All students are expected to read these posts and are encouraged to contribute to the discussion by answering each others questions. Please do not email questions to unit convenors or use the Private Message on iLearn feature. You will likely be re-directed to post your question to the General Discussion Forum which will delay the time you will receive an answer. Students may also seek face-to-face consultation during the consultation time shown on iLearn. Please notify the unit convenors through a Private Message on iLearn if you would like a face-to-face consultation. 

Students experiencing personal hardship should contact the unit convenors through a Private Message on iLearn to discuss how we can support your progress through your studies of this unit.   

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. Remember to check this page regularly in case the information and requirements change during semester. If there are any changes to this unit in relation to COVID, these will be communicated via iLearn.

This unit covers embedded systems programming in C, state machines, timers and interrupts, ADC, and interfacing with external peripheral using standard protocols such as UART, SPI and I2C. 

Pre-lab quizzes have been introduced so that students can test their understanding of the material prior to attempting pratical exercises. Some major project assessment task weightings have been reduced.