Unit Guide

General Information

Unit convenor and teaching staff	Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor and Lecturer Frances Louise frances.louise@mq.edu.au Contact via Private Message to Unit Staff dialogue via iLearn Available on iLearn Lecturer Charanya Ramakrishnan charanya.ramakrishnan@mq.edu.au Contact via Private Message to Unit Staff dialogue via iLearn Available on iLearn
Credit points	Credit points 10
Prerequisites	Prerequisites
Corequisites	Corequisites
Co-badged status	Co-badged status
Unit description	Unit description This unit introduces essential concepts and techniques of computing for conducting science, with special emphasis on the preparation and manipulation of data. We discuss the role of computers and computing tools in science and focus on the use of spreadsheets and other data manipulation tools. This unit introduces vital skills for tertiary learning and explores their relationship to success in future careers.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

ULO1: Demonstrate foundational knowledge of the role of data, computing and computing tools for science.
ULO2: Determine the appropriate computing tool for the key stages of data manipulation.
ULO3: Prepare and clean data so that it can be processed by computer tools.
ULO4: Communicate the steps performed in the preparation and processing of data so that they can be reproduced.
ULO5: Explain the ethical implications of the use of computers for gathering, processing, and storing data.
ULO6: Demonstrate foundational employability and self-directed learning skills, including recording academic achievements to link university study to future careers.

General Assessment Information

Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass this unit, you must:

Pass the hurdle requirements:
- Undertake and satisfactorily complete all Foundation activities, and
Achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50%

Hurdle Requirements

Foundation activities

These activities are built to prepare students to transition to being learners in higher education and then becoming professionals within the science community. Each of the activities is a hurdle without an assessment weight. This means that these activities do not contribute to the unit grade but must be completed as outlined to pass this unit. Some activities will be automatically graded, but all will ask you to apply the modules to your work in this unit, general university studies, and your personal goals. You will be informed of any due dates, but most modules can be completed in your own time. See your iLearn unit for detailed information on how to complete these modules.

Reattempts (up to 2) for any unsuccessful activities will be available to you upon receiving the result and feedback and must be submitted by week 11.

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 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. 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.

Assessments where Late Submissions will be accepted:

Foundation activities - YES, there is no Late Penalty if submitted by week 11
SGTA assessed activities - YES, there is no Late Penalty if submitted by week 13
In-class tests - NO, unless Special Consideration is granted
Project final submission - YES, Standard Late Penalty applies
Reproducibility project, phase 1 - NO, unless Special Consideration is granted
Reproducibility project, phase 2 - NO, unless Special Consideration is granted

Special Considerations

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.

Foundation activities: No special consideration since late submissions are allowed until week 11 without late penalties.

SGTA assessed activities: No special consideration since late submissions are allowed until week 13 without late penalties.

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

Assessment Tasks

Name	Weighting	Hurdle	Due
Foundation Activities	0%	Yes	Weeks 2-8
SGTA assesed activities	10%	No	Weeks 2-11
In-class tests	60%	No	Weeks 3, 7, 12 (see iLearn for specifics)
Project	20%	No	Week 11
Reproducibility Project	10%	No	Weeks 12, 13

Foundation Activities

Assessment Type ¹: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task ²: 0 hours
Due: Weeks 2-8
Weighting: 0%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Activities related to foundational employability and self-directed learning skills