General Submission Information

Please format assessments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing.

All assessments must be submitted electronically. 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). 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.

Special Consideration / Late Penalties

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day an assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends) (see: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/assessment-exams/special-consideration). Applications for extensions must be made via Service Connect. 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 assessments (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. A Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

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.

To attain a pass or higher grade in Professional Experience a student must obtain a satisfactory in both the Professional Experience component and a pass or higher grade in the academic component. For Professional Experience units the Professional Experience Evaluation Report is marked as Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory. The Macquarie Teaching Performance Assessment (MQTPA - in final WIL/PEx units) is marked as Not met, Met or Exceeds.

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.

Required and recommended texts

The readings for each of the 4 Modules are available through the Library's LEGANTO (access in iLearn). Details of the required readings will be on iLearn. You also have access to a range of support resources to assist your project (see LEGANTO). 

Information about the unit iLearn site 

EDST8040 is taught fully online and 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 essential for all students and the Unit is organised into a Modular framework with weekly sections.

Various activities and materials for discussion and critical reflection are included and all work is conducted through the iLearn site. Electronic links and suggested references will be included in the Resources section. Please check the iLearn unit weekly.

The lectures for each Module are available on the web through the ECHO360 lecture component.

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.

No extensions can be given for technical issues, please allow enough time for your submissions.

Ph: 9850 4357 or 1800 67 4357   Email: help.mq.edu.au.    On Campus: Ground floor at 18 Wally’s Walk

Unit Schedule

Students will receive a Monday announcement guiding their independent work for the week.

There are 4 Modules for EDST8040:

1. Exploration and Identification of key issues within educational contexts       Weeks 1-4
2. Research and evidence within educational contexts    Weeks 5 -7
3. Building change and innovation in an educational context    Weeks 8-11
4. Scholarship: professional application to an educational context  Weeks 12-13

Each Module, you work flexibly through iLearn as independent work over the set time period:

• Listen to the recorded lecture;
• Access the set readings in Leganto;
• View any additional video material that is included; and
• Contribute to a Discussion Forum in response to “Conversations Starters” based on the specific Module focused content

Ongoing

Guide the development of your individual project with library research and reading.

EDST8040 had ongoing review for Session 1, 2025.

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:

•Responsive: to students, colleagues. parents and professional communities. Teaching is a relational profession. The best teachers make deep positive connections and engage their students through these connections and by their recognisable care for students' wellbeing and learning success. The Unit also requires your responsiveness to your specific educational context and the exploration of a key issue located in that context.

•Research engaged: Effective teaching is based on evidence and this can come from teachers' own research in the classroom and the latest academic research. A critical understanding of data is essential, allowing it to be analysed and woven back into practice. Keeping up with the current educational issues and policies and practices is also important for ongoing career development. This Unit provides the opportunity for your own research informed investigation.