General Submission Information

All written assessments must be submitted electronically.  Please format assessments using 12-point font and 1.5 spacing. Submissions must meet the required file type and formatting specifications outlined in the assessment guidelines.  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.

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 softeware for plagiarism checking. 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, with + or - 10% applicable. Work above the word limit will not be marked.

Academic Integrity

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

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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.

A Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic.

Applications for extensions must be made via Service Connect.

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.

Regular 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.

The lectures are available on the web through the ECHO360 lecture component. You must listen to the relevant topic lectures before your workshop session. 

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 8212 has recorded lectures on each Workshop focus, and oncampus blocks of 4 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 program for EDST8212 with the accompanying lectures/ readings/ preparation is available on iLearn.  Attendance is required.

Week 2/ 31: On-campus classes commence -students' attendance is required.

Unit Schedule

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

•  Lectures available online.
• The second week of session  2, commencing Monday 3rd August all classes commence on campus and attendance is required.
• Four workshops of 4 hours: Attendance is required: Weeks 31 and 32 (2 & 3), Week 40 (9 after recess) and  Week 44 (13).
• You cannot attend Professional Experience when your workshop is scheduled.

EDST8212 is structured in 4 workshop Modules: 

1. Reading for pleasure: Week 2  

2. Words, sounds and images: Week 3 

3. Many voices, many texts: Week 9    

4. Creating and sharing stories: Week 13

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

The English Specialisation EDST8212 has been completely re-developed due to its 2026 timetabling as 4 blocks of 4 hour face to face workshops, whereas in previous years the unit was taught as 5 modules of 6 x 2 hourly classes and one on campus day.

New children's literature is regularly incorporated into the unit and lectures updated.