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) 

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.

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.

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

Required texts:

Callow, J. (2023 2nd edn). The shape of text to come. How images, text and other modes work. Primary English Teaching Association Australia.  

ISBN 9781875622870

McDonald, L. (2023). A literature companion for teachers (3rd edn.). Primary English Teaching Association Australia.

Note please:  both are published by the Primary English Teaching Association and if students join PETAA -which they can join for free-  these 2 books  are available for at discount. 

There are prescribed peer reviewed articles as required readings in LEGANTO on iLearn (linked to the Library).

RECOMMENDED texts will be suggested and listed on iLearn in the Resources section

Information about the unit iLearn site 

This unit 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.

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 you are encouraged to use this web component. Electronic links and suggested references will be included in the Resources section.

Weekly lectures are available on the web through the ECHO360 lecture component. You must listen to all lectures on a  weekly basis.

Please do NOT contact the Unit Convenor regarding iLearn technical help especially for Task 2.  Allow enough time to create your video.

 Assistance is available from IT Helpdesk: via email onehelp@mq.edu.au or Ph: 9850 4357 or 1800 67 4357. On Campus: Ground floor at 18 Wally’s Walk

Structure

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

EDST 4150 has a weekly recorded lecture, and oncampus, weekly 2 hour face to face workshops.  There will be independent learning activities on line. Reading of children's literature is also expected.

In the workshops 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 Echo in 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 EDST4150 with the accompanying lectures/ readings/ preparation is available on iLearn.  Attendance is required.

Week 1: On-campus classes commence - attendance required.

Unit Schedule

This Unit has the following required learning and expected attendance components:

• A weekly lecture available online.
• The first week of session  2, Week 1 Monday 28th July classes commence on campus and attendance is expected.
• A weekly workshop of 2 hours. Attendance is required: from weeks 31 - 33 (1-3), and weeks 41 - 45 (9 through to 13).
• You cannot attend Professional Experience when your class in 4150 is scheduled.

EDST4150 is structured in 5 Modules: 

1. Literary tales to tell : week 1

2. Words, sounds and images: weeks 2 & 3 

3. Textual patterns, forms and features: weeks 9 & 10

4. Many voices, many texts: weeks 11 & 12    

5. Creating and sharing stories : week 13

A program with full details of the Module and the weekly focus and the required lectures and readings is available on iLearn.

New children's literature is regularly incorporated.  In 2025 some new lectures have been included.