• 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 rubric or a clear marking scheme.
• 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.

Exams

• The exam timetable is not typically finalised until mid-semester. Once it is available, please take careful note of the date and time of the exam. No early examinations can be set for individuals. Do not plan leave until you have seen the exam timetable.
• The exam is an invigilated, on-campus exam. Students are expected to be available at the date and time designated in the exam timetable. If you experience serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time, you can consider applying for Special Consideration. For students who have experienced serious and unavoidable difficulties at exam time, a later supplementary exam will be held, and any such students must make themselves available for whenever that is scheduled.

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.

Grade	Descriptor
HD (High Distinction)	Provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem-solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application as appropriate to the discipline.
D (Distinction)	Provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.
Cr (Credit)	Provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; convincing argumentation with appropriate coherent justification; communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.
P (Pass).	Provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; routine argumentation with acceptable justification; communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes
F (Fail)	Does not provide evidence of attainment of learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; missing, undeveloped, inappropriate or confusing argumentation; incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.

 

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 on 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.

Assessment Tasks

In accordance with the Academic Integrity Policy a student must take responsibility, be proactive, take ownership and hold oneself responsible for ensuring all information and content, including citations and references in their assessment, have been generated and communicated in an ethical, honest and responsible manner. Failure to show responsibility by checking the accuracy and integrity of your own content, citations and references, or the submission of falsified content, is a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Literacy Need Analysis

This assignment task is to create literacy strategies in a culturally and linguistically diverse school. The strategies should be based on the unit content. More information can be found on iLearn unit site.

Referencing

• You are expected to use APA referencing style in your research report.
• An APA referencing guide can be accessed through the Library’s Multisearch function. It provides tools and templates to assist you to correct format citations in APA 7.
• If you would like additional assistance, the following website is also particularly useful: https://libguides.mq.edu.au/referencing/APA7thEdition

Word Count

• 1,500 words. State your word count on your title page. Reports that exceed the word limit by 10% or more will be penalised.
• The reference list is not counted in the word limit.

Weekly Discussion Forum

Students are to contribute to online discussion forums under each topic. The due dates for each task will be 23:55, Wednesdays. Specific details will be provided on iLearn. You will be asked to submit your discussion forum posts at the end of the semester using a template provided on iLearn. 

FINAL EXAMINATION

The final exam, held in the formal examination period, is 2 hours long. It is designed to test your ability to apply conceptual knowledge developed throughout the unit. The exam will include a combination of multiple-choice, short answer and extended response questions. All modules/topics in the unit will be examinable.

Exam Timing

• Please view the exam timetable at https://iexams.mq.edu.au/. The exam timetable does not typically become available until the mid-session recess. Once it is available, please mark the date in your calendar.
• Please note: EDUC3730 teaching staff do not have any power to change the date and do not know the date in advance.
• You are expected to be available at the time designated in the exam timetable.

Failure to Sit/Attend

• Macquarie University policy requires that no early examinations be set for individuals. Late examinations are only given in exceptional circumstances. Please do not book holidays until you have seen the Exam Timetable.
• The only exception to not sitting an examination at the designated time is because of documented illness or unexpected and unavoidable misadventure. In these circumstances you must apply for Special Consideration within the window of time indicated in the university policy (see link above).

 

Information about the unit iLearn site 

This unit 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 compulsory for all students. Important assessment information will be posted here, as will other relevant unit notices and materials, including a reading template and guide to lecture note taking to assist your studies.

Various activities and materials for discussion and critical reflection are included and external students especially are encouraged to use this web component. Electronic links and suggested references will be included in the Resources section. Please check the iLearn unit regularly.

Weekly lectures are available on the unit iLearn site. You must listen to all lectures if you do not attend these ‘live’.

PowerPoint slides of the weekly lecture are also available in iLearn. 

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

Ph: 1800 67 4357 or 1800 67 4357

Log a request at help.mq.edu.au.

On Campus: Ground floor at 18 Wally’s Walk

This unit requires students to use several ICT and software skills:

• Internet access: The iLearn site contains materials for this unit; it is also required for the online submission of all Assessment Tasks, and for the use of Turnitin submission for ALL tasks. 
• Word processing, visual representations, and document formatting: You are required to use an appropriate form of software to present your assignments.
• Uploading of assessment tasks to iLearn.
•  

Structure

The unit structure can be found on the iLearn unit page.

In the tutorial students will discuss issues and questions arising from the lectures and prescribed readings. They are expected to base their arguments/discussions on evidence from published research and other relevant material. There will be a supporting website for the unit providing additional readings, links and materials. Lectures will also be available through iLearn from the following website link: http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

Students are required to participate in small group activities, whole class discussion, to read the weekly material in advance, and to complete brief tasks either as individuals or in pairs. The weekly program for the course with the accompanying readings/ preparation is available on the unit iLearn site.

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:

Resilience. In this unit, students are encouraged to form study groups and participate in online forums. Given the unit materials are fully online and can be accessed with time and location flexibility, students are encouraged to plan their study times, break down their major assessment to small parts and work through them progressively, and practise time management skills throughout the unit. Being able to draw on personal resources and social support, as well as managing time and multiple tasks, are important resilience skills.

Reflexive. In this unit, students will be asked to share their knowledge and beliefs on the topics of reading acquisition. After learning about the topics in the unit, students are asked to critically evaluate and reflect on their knowledge and practice. To ensure quality teaching outcomes, it is important to reflect and challenge our existing beliefs and make effective and impactful decisions based on research evidence.

Responsive. For the online discussion assessment, students are encouraged to provide meaningful and supportive feedback to each other. Throughout the unit, students are also asked to think about how their practice and their relationships to the community may impact their students and families.

Ready to learn. Students will learn foundational knowledge in reading and writing, including language components, phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, reading comprehension and writing.  This knowledge forms a basis for future learning and understanding of the principles for effective instruction in reading. Students are encouraged to see this as a starting point, not an end point.

Research-engaged. Students will understand contemporary research-informed approaches to reading and writing instruction for diverse learners.