Requirements to Pass this Unit

To pass, you must achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50% for the unit.

We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities in order to achieve a mark >50%. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.

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. You will need to provide evidence (e.g. medical certificate) to support your request for an extension for any assessment task. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments or other activities in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through the Service Connect Portal (https://connect.mq.edu.au).

Assessment Submission Deadlines and Late Submissions

All assessments (except for the exam) must be submitted by 11.55 pm on their due date. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern. Should these assessment deadlines be missed due to illness or misadventure, or if you have a significant timetable clash with a major activity in another unit (e.g. a professional placement for another class), students should apply for an extension via the Special Consideration process. Note: Assessment tasks being due at the same time as those in other units are not grounds for an extension.

• Late submissions will be accepted (with penalty, unless extension granted) for the two major assignments.
• Late submissions will not be allowed for the final exam.

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 7^th day (including weekends). After the 7^th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. 

Submission of Assessments

The two major assignments must be submitted online through Turnitin. Links for the submission of each assignment will be available on iLearn.​ The final exam will be held on-campus during the formal examination period. The due dates for all assessment tasks are not negotiable. If you have commitments that will significantly impact your study during the session then you must plan for this in advance as part of an effective individual study plan. 

Assessment Criteria

Assessment at Macquarie University is standards-based, as outlined in the Assessment Policy. This means that your work will be assessed against clear criteria (see specific criteria for each assessment task on iLearn). You should understand and perform according to the general unit criteria. In this unit we expect quality in your assignments and a level of knowledge and comprehension of course content that sets the foundations for further study. Grades for each assessment task and the unit as a whole will be awarded according to the following general criteria (course rubric):

	Developing	Functional	Proficient	Advanced
General description of the level of attainment	Has not yet reached the desired standard.   A Fail (F) grade would be awarded.	Has reached basic academic standards.   A Pass (P) grade would be awarded.	Has completely reached the standards expected.   A Credit (Cr) would be awarded.	Has gone beyond the expected standard.   A Distinction (D) or High Distinction (HD) grade would be awarded.
Knowledge and understanding	Limited understanding of required concepts and knowledge.	Can accurately reproduce required facts, but has limited depth of understanding of basic concepts.	Exhibits breadth and depth of understanding.  Uses terminology accurately in new contexts and transfers ideas to new situations.	Exhibits breadth and depth of understanding of concepts.  Can engage in productive critical reflection.
Analysis	Data analysis skills are limited.	Data analysis skills are largely descriptive with limited capacity to combine multiple factors.	Can synthesise data and critique the value and importance of scientific arguments.	Data analysis is sophisticated and is capable of placing examples in context of big ideas, problems and solutions.
Information literacy	Uses immediately available information without discretion.	Can select useful information.  Does not always discriminate between types of sources of information.	Independently selects useful information and can discriminate between types of sources of information.	Independently selects useful information and can critically discriminate between types of sources of information.
Communication and writing skills	Poor written communication skills (e.g. spelling and grammar).  Does not demonstrate an understanding of what is expected in assignment writing and presentation.	Communicates ideas adequately in writing.  Adheres to most basic requirements for written work and assignment presentation.	Communicates effectively and clearly in writing. Adheres to all expectations of assignment writing and presentation.	Communicates adeptly in writing.  Adheres to all expectations of assignment writing and presentation.

Assessment Marking and Feedback

The two major assignments will be marked through Turnitin and feedback will be noted on the assignment and provided to the class in a summarised format via iLearn. Your grades will be returned using the Grades Report on iLearn. Grades from the final exam will also be made available in the Grades Report.

We aim to return your assignments with feedback within 2-3 weeks of the date that you submit your assignment. We appreciate your patience and will advise you through iLearn when your marked assignments and feedback are available for viewing.

At all stages in this unit we will try to give you constructive feedback on your understanding and performance. The unit has been structured so that practicals and assessment tasks allow us to monitor your progress and understanding throughout the unit. If at any stage you wish to receive guidance on the content of the unit or your performance then we encourage you to approach one of the staff and arrange a meeting. Likewise, if you would like more detailed feedback or explanation of the feedback you have received then please approach the staff member who gave this feedback to arrange a meeting.

We also appreciate your constructive feedback too. Our goal is to improve our teaching and your learning continuously. We ask for your feedback at the end of semester and value your specific comments. We are also happy to receive your comments throughout the semester.

Major Assignments

Full details and instructions for the two major assignments will be provided on iLearn. Plan your study time well in advance to complete and submit your assignments on time. Skills and understanding of concepts developed in the practical classes will help you with these assessment tasks. Let us know of problems you are having in advance, or as soon as possible, not after the event. Please see the information above regarding Special Consideration and penalties for late submissions of assessment tasks.

Final Exam

The exam will be scheduled in the regular University examination period. The exam will be 2 hours in length and there will be a combination of short answer and longer problem-solving questions. Further details and guidance will be provided in week 13.

Information regarding exam conditions and timetables can be found via the Student Portal. It is very important to note that the final exam period includes weekdays and weekends and all students are expected to complete the exam at the time specified in the exam timetable. The timetable will be available in Draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of the exams and in Final form four weeks before the commencement of exams.

For unavoidable disruptions during exams, you should apply for Special Consideration as soon as possible. If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the Special Consideration process, the exam time will be scheduled after the conclusion of the official examination period and you will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of the Supplementary Examination. Note that it is Macquarie University policy to not set early examinations - all students are expected to ensure that they are available until the final day of the official examination period. You are required to download your room and seat number from the exam website before the exam.

Classes

The class timetable can be found through the Timetable portal.

A detailed class schedule with lecture and practical topics, fieldtrip information, assessment due dates, etc. will be made available to all enrolled students through iLearn.

The unit is taught via lectures, practical classes, fieldwork, readings, and assessment tasks. Students must make regular use of iLearn to access teaching and learning materials, to submit assessment tasks, to stay in touch with the unit, to contact lecturers and tutors, and to discuss issues and concepts with classmates.

Generally, you should attend:

• Weekly lectures (2 x 1-hour live lectures - slides provided on iLearn and recordings posted to Echo360 for revision purposes).
• Weekly practical classes (1 x 2-hour practical class).
• One compulsory fieldtrip: 4-hours at Manly Lagoon (dates and details provided on iLearn).

We also recommend that you follow current developments in the multidisciplinary fields of environmental science and management by staying abreast of the news.

Unit Organisation

This unit starts with introductory lectures and an overview of library and scientific writing skills. Following this, there are several core modules and then we conclude the unit with important unit summary lectures, including exam information and study tips.

In week 1, students need to attend two 1-hour lectures and complete one 2-hour online practical task.

A summary of what you need to do

Each week attend two 1-hour lectures and one 2-hour practical class (unless that day/week is marked in the schedule as having 'no class'). You should devote ~10 hours per week (on average) to a 10 credit point unit such as this, which means that you should spend several hours per week working towards completion of assessments, readings, etc. for the unit outside of your online and face-to-face classes.

Recordings of lectures will be made available for revision purposes through Echo360 on iLearn. Recordings will not be provided for practical class activities.

The 2-hour “hands-on” practical classes will be held either in a computer laboratory, in the field (i.e. outside!), or online, as specified in the class schedule. They are designed to help you work towards the major assignments, to allow you to build on your understanding of core material from lectures, readings and other activities, and to develop some valuable generic and discipline-specific skills. Meet in your usual practical classroom every week then proceed with your tutor to the field when required, unless the class is to be held online or you are directed otherwise via iLearn. Look at the class schedule on iLearn to find out whether you need field equipment (e.g. enclosed shoes, hat/raincoat, water bottle, etc.) for your class.

In week 6 attend one 1/2 day (~4 hour) off-campus fieldtrip in the Sydney region (this mandatory fieldtrip will run rain, hail or shine). Information and an itinerary for the fieldtrip will be provided on iLearn. You will spend several hours outdoors in the field, so ensure you have sturdy, enclosed footwear (no sandals or thongs), appropriate clothing, sunscreen, a hat and a raincoat. Water, lunch and snacks for the day are your own responsibility.

Off-shore Students

Off-shore students must email the convenor as soon as possible to discuss study options.

Required and Recommended Texts and/or Materials 

There is no set textbook for this unit, but there are recommended readings for each module as noted on iLearn and in Leganto.

Technology Used and Required

This unit will use iLearn and associated technology. See the Instructions on how to log in to iLearn and the links below which will help you:

• Getting started
• Activities
• Assignments and grades
• Online study tips
• Discussion forums
• Lecture recordings
• Zoom Live Transcription

Computer-Based Learning

There are essential computer-based components of this unit, including online lectures, some weekly practical exercises, and online discussion forums for communicating with staff and other students in this unit. You can undertake this work from off-campus or on-campus, including through the computer labs (when they are not booked for classes) or in the Library. If you’re unsure of how to connect to the internet or use the computer system, help can be obtained at: http://students.mq.edu.au/support/.

Please note that at the beginning of each session our class lists are often incomplete (due to late transfers and changes of enrollment). In the first week of semester, if your name is missing from the enrollment list, you may not yet have access to the system. Try a couple of times, to make sure you have not made a typing error (remember your username and password are CaSe SeNsItIvE). If later in the session you suddenly find that your access to the iLearn site has been mysteriously barred, it is probably because your Student Services Fee has not been paid (this is imposed by the University Administration, not us).

General Discussion Forum and Announcements

The "General Discussion Forum" link on the unit's homepage is a communication system between you and the rest of the class (a bit like an online tutorial or bulletin board). In this unit, we use it to discuss important issues related to the unit. You are expected to read every posting to the discussion forum because important administrative and academic information will be posted there - it is your responsibility to stay up-to-date.

Unit-wide announcements will be shared through the Announcements function in iLearn under very important circumstances.

Student Workload

We recommend that you complete the full unit workload and attempt all assessment tasks. We expect you to work an average of ~10 hours per week on this unit. Obviously this is dependent on the speed at which you learn and your ability to study effectively. You may need to spend extra time on different parts of the course content. Depending on when assignments are due, this workload will be spread over the semester. It is critical that you manage your time effectively throughout the session and work around other units and commitments you may have. A guide of hours typically required to receive a Pass grade is outlined below. However, keep in mind, grades are awarded on a demonstration of understanding and ability, not on time or effort!

Activity	Hours Per Teaching Week	No. of Weeks	Hours Per Session
Lectures	2	12	24
Practicals	2	9	18
Fieldtrip	-	-	4
Assignment 1	-	-	20
Assignment 2	-	-	20
Other (independent study, reading, exam revision, etc.)	~4.3	15	64
Total for semester			150
Per week (15 weeks)			10

Please see the weekly class schedule provided on iLearn.

There are lectures and a practical in week 1 (see iLearn for details).

We value student feedback and aim to continually improve this unit. We encourage students to provide constructive feedback via student surveys, to the teaching staff directly, or via the FSE Student Experience & Feedback link in the iLearn page.

Student feedback from the previous offering of this unit was very positive overall, especially in terms of practical and fieldwork activities and skills developed. We took on board feedback to reduce the number of assessment items, and so this new offering does not have any module based quiz assessments.

We also developed a section on iLearn which provides guidance for assessment tasks and the fieldtrip, and provides optional quizzes for you to hone your understanding on the lecture and practical materials along the way. The results of these quizzes do not count towards your unit marks, but the quizzes provide a way for you to practice and study for your final exam without as much end-of-session cramming!