Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.

Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128 and 129).

To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements and achieve a mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

Late Submissions

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). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ 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 concern. 

 For example:

For any late submissions of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, students need to submit an application for Special Consideration.

Note that the Written reflection is submitted as an iLearn quiz.  It is open throughout the semester, and closes promptly at 11:55 pm on the last day of the session (5/6/2026).  Whatever has been written (including a blank) is automatically submitted at the closing of the quiz.

As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including lectures, tutorials/practicals, readings, online modules, videos, etc.  Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.

Recommended texts

Perception

Snowden, R., Thompson, P., & Troscianko, T. (2012). University Press. Basic Vision: an introduction to visual perception 2nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford

Access to Assigned Reading Material These texts are available for purchase, but there are also hard copies available at the library in the main collection as well as those available for download as eBooks. Where availability is limited, students should consider using previous editions of each book which are are just as good for most topics. Basic Vision, 2nd Edition (2014) Basic Vision, "Revised" Edition (2012) [Note: As far as I can see, these are identical, and either could be referred to as the 2nd Edition.] Basic Vision, First Edition, (2006), available in print only

Cognition

Eysenck, M.W., & Keane, M. (2000). Cognitive psychology. 8th Edition, Hove, UK. Psychology Press.

Technology Used

Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library. Note that for Perception tutorial #3 students will require anaglyph 3D glasses (either red-blue or red-green). Although pairs will be available for students in face-to-face practicals, students completing online tutorials will be required to source their own. Anaglyph glasses can be purchased from many stores online or can be constructed at home very cheaply.

It is University policy that the University-issued email account will be used for official University communication. All students are required to access their University account frequently.

Overview The course will comprise lectures and tutorials supported by assigned reading. Although some of the material from these separate components may be related to each other, different concepts and topics will be contained in each. While lectures are useful principally for introducing new concepts and knowledge, tutorials allow more direct interactions between instructor and student, allowing a hands-on approach to perceptual and cognitive phenomena and their explanation. They are your opportunity to enhance your understanding further by participating in activities and asking questions.

Lectures: Weekly lectures will be delivered on Fridays 11-1 pm in the Macquarie Theatre, 21WW (Wally's Walk). Lecture recordings will be available via Echo360 in the iLearn unit homepage.  Perception lectures will be delivered by Kim Curby in Weeks 2-6, and the cognition lectures will be delivered by Sachiko Kinoshita in Weeks 7-13. For the up-to-date lecture schedule, refer to the iLearn unit homepage. Please note that there is no lecture in Week 1 (due to the Macquarie Theatre being used for a faculty event) - please refer to an alternative activity in the iLearn unit homepage.  Week 6 is a good Friday public holiday, and a pre-recorded lecture will be available in Echo360 via the iLearn unit homepage.

Tutorials (practicals). The tutorial program will run fortnightly on Session Weeks 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13.  Each tutorial is 2 hour duration, and is held in 12SW (Second Way) Room 316 Faculty PC Lab.   The schedule and topics to be covered are displayed below.

What to do if you miss a tutorial (including those scheduled on public holidays) As tutorial attendance is not recorded, there is no need to submit a special consideration request for absence from a tutorial. However, the tutorial content is examinable, and it is your responsibility to keep up with the material by either attending an alternative tutorial class held in the same week, and/or catching up on the tutorial material available in the TUTORIAL block in the iLearn unit homepage. (Of course you will miss out on the class discussion; ask your peers to help you.)

Macquarie University recognises that artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is rapidly reshaping education and the modern workplace. As AI becomes increasingly accessible, the University and your teaching staff are committed to preparing you to use these tools effectively, ethically, and with strong professional judgment. Rather than restricting technology, the emphasis is on helping you understand when and how AI can be used to enhance productivity, support learning, and reflect real-world professional practice. Across your degree, we will support you to develop the critical thinking, adaptability, and values-based decision-making skills required to navigate evolving AI tools responsibly, including acknowledging their use appropriately.  You should always appropriately acknowledge when you have used AI tools within assessment tasks, including which AI tools you have used and how you have used them. 

To provide clarity, Macquarie University uses a simple, two-tiered approach to AI in assessment:

AI Open assessments allow you to fully incorporate AI, reflecting authentic tasks where AI would normally be used in professional settings. 

Observed with AI Optional assessments involve tasks where you either demonstrate essential knowledge without technology or show how you apply AI under supervision.

Across both categories, the goal is to ensure you build foundational knowledge, exercise sound judgment, and engage with AI in ways that uphold ethical, cultural, and university values.  

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses. 

As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session. 

Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.