Students

EDST4160 – Design of STEM Education

2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor
Bronwyn Tregenza
Contact via Email or via iLearn Staff Contact
25B Wally's Walk, Level 6, Rm 642
Flexible
Tutor
Katelyn Williamson
Contact via Email or via iLearn Staff Contact
Monday to Wednesday
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
EDST4110
Corequisites Corequisites
EDST4040
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit builds students' personal conceptual knowledge of design thinking, focusing on its integration with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) knowledge and its application to solve authentic problems or meet needs, wants or opportunities existing in 'real world' contexts. The project-based approach requires students to research and develop a personal STEM investigation including phases of conceptualisation, design/planning, prototyping, implementation and evaluation. The unit models e-portfolio assessment as a means of collating and presenting data and information from the investigations.

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: Explain the multi-faceted nature of carrying out a STEM-based investigation, including social, cultural, economic, environmental, personal constraints and considerations that need to be taken into account when developing solutions.
  • ULO2: Explain the role of design thinking when researching, conceptualising and planning a STEM-based solution to an identified problem, need, want or opportunity.
  • ULO3: Illustrate the contribution that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics make to the design and development of solutions to problems, needs, wants or opportunities.
  • ULO4: Demonstrate understanding of how the knowledge generated from their personal STEM investigation relates to classroom STEM teaching and learning.
  • ULO5: Use digital technologies to scaffold STEM inquiries for learners.

General Assessment Information

General Submission Information

All assessments must be submitted electronically. Students submit a link to a Google Site for Assessment Task 1 with an introductory paragraph of approximately 100 words so that Turnitin is initiated and the rubric becomes available.

Turnitin plagiarism detection software is used to check all written assessments. 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 assessment guidelines. Failure to submit work in an acceptable format may result in delays in processing your submission and potential penalties for non-compliance with assessment 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 assessment 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 assessments. If you have any missing items of assessment, it is your responsibility to contact the unit convenor.

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.

Word limits are strictly applied. Work above the word limit will not be marked.

 

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. Students who use AI during the preparation of an assessment task should acknowledge the source using the APA referencing style.

When you reference AI-generated content directly in your text, you should include an in-text citation, and an associated entry in your reference list. Cite any AI-generated content that you quote, paraphrase, or summarise.

For citations in APA Style, treat the author of AI-generated content as the company or organisation that created the AI model. For example, when citing content generated by ChatGPT, list the author as OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT.

  Format Example
Reference List Entry Author. (Year of chat/prompt). Name of AI tool (Version of tool, if known) [Large language model]. URL OpenAI. (2024). ChatGPT (GPT-4o model) [Large language model]. https://chatgpt.com/
In-Text Parenthetical Citation (Author, Year of chat/prompt) (OpenAI, 2024)

Other Recommendations:

  • In the text of your assignment, briefly explain the prompt you used so readers know how you accessed your information.
  • If the chat is particularly relevant to your paper, include the chat transcript as an appendix at the end of your paper.
  • If it is possible to create a shareable link to the chat transcript, include that instead of the tool's URL.
  • Citing an AI-generated image in APA Style follows mostly the same rules as citing any image in APA, with the addition of mentioning the prompt and AI tool in the caption note.

Any student suspected of using AI without acknowledgement 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.

Special Consideration / Late Penalties

Applications for extensions must be made via Service Connect.

Late submission penalty

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day to late submissions, up until the 7th calendar 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.

Important to note:

  • Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs) will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.
  • Students should not request an informal arrangement from their tutor, lecturer or Unit Convenor (or equivalent).
  • Where an application for Special Consideration is approved and the outcome is an extension to the due date of a task, submissions that are received after the new due date will be subject to late penalties that are calculated from the new due date. This only applies where the outcome is an extension to the due date – see the Special Consideration Policy for a schedule of all possible outcomes.

 

Marking

All assessments are marked using a rubric.

Marking of all assessments is moderated by the Unit Convenor.

University Policy on Grading

Assignments will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the University's Grading System and University Assessment Policy.

Results

Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed because 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 Service Connect.

Withdrawing from this unit

If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice via Service Connect before doing so as this unit may be a co-requisite or prerequisite for units in the following sessions and may impact your course progression.

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
STEM unit of learning 50% No 31/10/2025
STEM investigation 50% No 16/08/2025

STEM unit of learning

Assessment Type 1: Learning plan
Indicative Time on Task 2: 29.5 hours
Due: 31/10/2025
Weighting: 50%

 

Develop and evaluate a unit of work that school students can complete that engages them in a process similar to your personal STEM investigation completed in Task 1.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the role of design thinking when researching, conceptualising and planning a STEM-based solution to an identified problem, need, want or opportunity.
  • Illustrate the contribution that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics make to the design and development of solutions to problems, needs, wants or opportunities.
  • Demonstrate understanding of how the knowledge generated from their personal STEM investigation relates to classroom STEM teaching and learning.
  • Use digital technologies to scaffold STEM inquiries for learners.

STEM investigation

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 29.5 hours
Due: 16/08/2025
Weighting: 50%

 

Research, design and plan a personal STEM investigation that involves the integration of mathematics, science, engineering and technological knowledge and skills (eg., working scientifically/technologically) and follows a design thinking process.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain the multi-faceted nature of carrying out a STEM-based investigation, including social, cultural, economic, environmental, personal constraints and considerations that need to be taken into account when developing solutions.
  • Explain the role of design thinking when researching, conceptualising and planning a STEM-based solution to an identified problem, need, want or opportunity.
  • Illustrate the contribution that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics make to the design and development of solutions to problems, needs, wants or opportunities.
  • Demonstrate understanding of how the knowledge generated from their personal STEM investigation relates to classroom STEM teaching and learning.
  • Use digital technologies to scaffold STEM inquiries for learners.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Students in this unit are expected to commit fully to the following program of activities.

Weekly Attendance Mode

  • View and respond to 1 x 1hr weekly recorded lecture
  • Attend 1 x 3hr Tutorial beginning Week 1 Monday 28 July
  • Read and respond to up to 3 texts per week
  • Complete practical tasks to cultivate, reinforce and demonstrate skills learned in class

Infrequent Mode

  • Read and respond to texts listed in the weekly modules
  • View and respond to weekly lectures posted in each of the weekly modules
  • Attend all three Infrequent Days on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 August and Saturday 11 October
  • Complete set practical tasks to cultivate, reinforce and demonstrate skills learned in class

Please Note:

  • Class attendance is expected and all absences should have a Special Consideration application via AskMQ.
  • Equipment for practical components of the course will be scanned out during our first tutorial and returned during tutorials on 13 and 20 October
  • Tutorials introduce skills essential to the assessment tasks
  • Tutorials commence Monday Week 1 which is 28 July

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) 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 connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

School of Education Procedures

Additional Macquarie School of Education policies apply to this unit.

Academic Progression Policy 

This unit is a part of a professional course listed on Schedules 2 and 3 of the Academic Progression Policy. This course has additional requirements that are applicable for the full duration of the course, including course-specific Inherent Requirements, Fitness to Practice requirements and other compulsory course requirements. It also has rigorous academic progression standards. Inability to meet these requirements may result in a withdrawal of offer of admission and/or permanent exclusion from the course in accordance with the General Coursework Rules.

Communication

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

  • Official MQ Student Email Address
  • The Dialogue function on iLearn
  • Other iLearn communication functions

 

Attendance and Participation 

See the University timetable for information about when classes begin in this unit. Creating your timetable - Enrolling | Macquarie University, Sydney (mq.edu.au)

Attendance at all synchronous activities, completion of non-synchronous formative/diagnostic class tasks and involvement in professional forums is  expected as the Bachelor of Education is a professional qualification. Activities completed during weekly tutorials (DAY or ONLINE DAY mode) or on campus days (INFQ mode) are essential for building the core knowledge and/or skills required to demonstrate the learning outcomes of this unit and to meet the AITSL Graduate Teacher Standards and/or ACECQA requirements. Attendance at all tutorials and/or on campus days is expected and will be recorded. Make up tasks may be given if attendance is missed to ensure all content is covered to meet accreditation requirements.

Students are required to attend the tutorial in which they are enrolled. Any changes to tutorial enrolments must be completed officially through e-Student. Please do not contact the unit convenor to request a change.

Infrequent Attendance Students

Information about the dates of the on-campus sessions can be found in the university timetable. Creating your timetable - Enrolling | Macquarie University, Sydney (mq.edu.au)

  • The on campus sessions are essential to student engagement and learning and attendance is expected. Failure to attend or not to have an approved Special Consideration may result in a Fail grade.
  • Prior to the on campus sessions, students should have read the prescribed readings and listened to the lectures, summarise the main points, and make notes of the key terms and definitions. Prepare any discussion questions of your own that you wish to share.
  • Please make effective use of the online component of the unit and access iLearn regularly. Keep up to date with listening to the lectures on a weekly basis.
  • Further details and any updates about times and locations will be posted on iLearn as an Announcement during first half of the semester.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Please reach out to the Wellbeing Team via the email or number below for assistance navigating distressing or challenging situations.

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Changes since First Published

Date Description
25/07/2025 The INF days clashed with EDST4040 and so the first two INF days for EDST4160 have been moved to 8 and 9 of August. The third INF day remains 11 October.

Unit information based on version 2025.01R of the Handbook