General Assessment Information 

Academic honesty

At all times, students should be aware of and apply the Macquarie University policy on academic honesty (https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=3)

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 assignment, 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.  

Information on the acceptable and permitted use of generative artificial intelligence tools (GAIT) is outlined in the instructions for each unit assignment task.

Assessment Presentation Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when you submit each assignment:

• Include a completed ePortfolio title cover page using the template provided on iLearn.
• Allow a left and right-hand margin of at least 2cm in all assignments.
• Type all assignments using a minimum of Arial, 12-point font and SINGLE line spacing.
• Students are recommended to regularly save a copy of all assignments before submission.
• Students to use the Turnitin Similarity Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing and, in consideration of the report outcome, attend to any potential academic integrity issues, prior to submission of the final version of the assignment.
• Students are strongly encouraged to upload a draft copy of each assignment to Turnitin at least one week prior to the due date to obtain a Turnitin Similarity Report. The Turnitin Similarity Report provides students with a similarity index that may indicate if plagiarism has occurred. Students will be able to make amendments to their drafts prior to their final submission on the due date.
• For written assignments in SPED8910 a Turnitin Similarity Report should be reviewed but is NOT required to be submitted.

Assessment submission guidelines

• All assignments must be submitted through Turnitin as an accessible word document – do not submit as a pdf.
• It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all assignments are successfully submitted through Turnitin - 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. 

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Students should be aware of and apply the University policy on academic integrity (see: https://policies.mq.edu.au/document/view.php?id=3).

Unauthorised use of generative artificial intelligence occurs when a student uses material produced by a generative artificial intelligence in an academic exercise, without authorisation and submits it as their own work.

Unauthorised use of generative artificial intelligence may include using generative artificial intelligence to:

• produce or retrieve information and then using that information in an academic exercise
• paraphrase text
• increase or enhance the quality of an academic exercise, beyond the purposes permitted within the academic exercise
• produce an answer for a task or quiz; and/or produce non-text-based work and then using that non-text-based work in an academic exercise.

Any student suspected of using unauthorised AI in an assignment will be referred to the Faculty of Arts Discipline Committee. Penalties can include reduced marks for an assessment, being awarded '0' for a task, failing an entire unit, being excluded from a course of study. Please see each assessment task description/rubric for expectations about AI.

Use of GAIT in assignment preparation

For all assignments in this unit, students are not permitted to use any content or ideas generated by third parties or artificial intelligence sources (i.e., GAITs) for any purpose, including summarising texts on the subject. Students may continue to use spelling/grammar checkers, e.g., Microsoft spell-check, Grammarly, and Turnitin Draft Coach; and referencing software, e.g., Endnote and Mendeley.

Engaging with GAITs for all assignment tasks constitutes and will be treated as a breach of academic integrity.

Assessment submission guidelines

All assignments must be submitted electronically. Turnitin plagiarism detection software is used to check all written assignments. It is the responsibility of all students to ensure that their submitted work is in a format compatible with Turnitin software for plagiarism checking. Submissions must meet the required file type and formatting specifications outlined in the assignment guidelines. Failure to submit work in an acceptable format may result in delays in processing your submission and potential penalties for non-compliance with assignment requirements. If you are unsure about the file format or have technical difficulties, it is your responsibility to seek assistance before the submission deadline. Students should be careful to check that they submit the correct file for an assignment as no re-submissions will be accepted after the due date and time, including instances where students upload an incorrect file. It is not the responsibility of unit staff to contact students who have failed to submit assignments. If you have any missing items, it is your responsibility to contact the unit convenor.

Application for Special Consideration – extensions

• Applications for extensions must be made via Service Connect.

• It is not the responsibility of unit staff to contact students who have failed to submit assessments. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the unit convenor when assessments are missed.

Assessment marking

• Word limits are not applied to SPED8910 assignments.
• All assessments are marked using a feedback rubric.
• Marking of all assessments is moderated by the Unit Convenor.
• Turnitin plagiarism detection software is used to check all written assessments.

University policy on grading

Assignments will be awarded grades according to guidelines set out in the University's Grading System and University Assessment Policy. SPED8910 is a pass/ fail unit. Students who demonstrate a 'Graduate' level of competency in their Professional Experience component and on the Practicum Assessment Tool (PAT) will be awarded an Ungraded Pass. 

 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. 

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by the Unit Convenor, are not confirmed because they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to student email addresses and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit Service Connect.

Withdrawing from this unit

If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please contact the Graduate Studies Coordinator Tanya Kysa on 0484913641 or student.enquiries@nextsense.org.au, prior to withdrawing, for advice related to your progression. You can also seek academic advice via  Service Connect before withdrawing,  as this unit may be a co-requisite or prerequisite for units in the following sessions and may impact on your progression through the degree.

Required and recommended texts

Article: Boud, D., New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2001(90), Summer 2001, 9 - 18.

Book Chapter: Cavanagh, M., & Prescott, A. E., in Your professional experience handbook : a guide for preservice teachers , by Cavanagh, Michael, 1961-, author., Prescott, Anne E., author., Revised., Frenchs Forest, NSW, Pearson Australia, 2015 - 2015, 205 – 232.

DHH Book/ Resource: Romanik, Sylvia, Revised ed, Sydney, N.S.W., NSW Dept of Education and Training Disability Programs Directorate, 2008, Total pages vi, 350 p.

Electronic Communication

It is the student’s responsibility to check all electronic communication on a regular weekly basis.  Communication may occur via:

• Official MQ Student Email Address
• The Dialogue function on iLearn
• Other iLearn communication functions
• Please make effective use of the online component of the unit and access iLearn regularly. Keep up to date with checking Announcements on at least a 2x weekly basis especially when on placement.

Information about the iLearn site

SPED8910 has a full web presence through iLearn. 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. All requirements for this unit begin Session 2 Week 1, 2025, but the iLearn site can be accessed 2 weeks before the start of the session to complete Mandatory Check requirements. All resources for this unit, inclusive of ePortfolio templates are available on iLearn. Students are expected to access the iLearn site and engage with unit materials regularly during the Session. Students are responsible for the organisation and completion of Professional Experience placements to ensure the First Placement (block 1) and Final Placement (block 2) are completed and the final ePortfolio submitted for marking by week 13 of the session.

Support resources

Macquarie University has a range of services for students. If you are struggling with any aspect of academic life or career trajectory and skills, please refer to the comprehensive list of support services here.

Access and technical assistance

Information for students about access to the online component of this unit is available at https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/tools-and-resources/ilearn. 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: 02 98504357 and 1800 67 4357 or log a request at help.mq.edu.au. OneHelp is the online IT support service for both students and staff.

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.

Unit Schedule

The unit is divided into a series of topics; the materials are open for the entirety of the session:

• Completion of Activity 1- Critical Reflection Tool (prior to starting Professional Experience- end of week 1)
• Completion of Activity 2- Focus Area planning, setting of individual, professional SMART learning goals and outline of literature review (prior to starting Professional Experience- end of week 1)
• Completion of Activity 3- Understanding Reflection SCORM package (by Sunday of week 4)
• Completion of 8 days Professional Experience and submission of Assessment Task 1A - ePortfolio (First Placement/ Block 1) and Assessment Task 1B- Mid Session 500 word reflection blog.
•  Completion of 8 days Professional Experience and submission of Assessment Task 2A - ePortfolio (Final Placement/ Block 2) and Assessment Task 2B- End of Session 500 word reflection blog.

Note: reflection blogs (mid-session and end of session) should be posted no later than 7 days after completion of placement to enable sufficient time for students to comment on each other’s blogs. Any student completing their final placement in week 13 of the session is required to comment on 2 blogs before the end of week 12.

The 5Rs Framework, developed by the School of Education at Macquarie University, is embedded throughout this unit. Your use of the 5Rs Framework will help you develop the capabilities that will make your career sustainable and fulfilling. In this unit, you will learn using the 5Rs framework in the following important ways: