Classes
The unit will involve 3 hours face-to-face teaching per week consisting of 1 x 2 hour lecture and 1 x 1 hour tutorial. The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/
It is a requirement of the unit that students attend all lectures and tutorials. Attendance sheets will be circulated and it is the students’ responsibility that they sign these sheets. Students are encouraged to contact the unit Convenor if, due to any reason, they are unable to attend a lecture and/or tutorial.
Copies of overhead slides for each topic will be provided via Moodle-Online Learning @MQ http://ilearn.mq.edu.au. Students are expected to print a copy of the slides beforehand and bring them to the lecture. Students are expected to attend these weekly lectures and a tutorial on a regular basis and will actively compile additional notes during the lectures. In addition, the unit provides students with the lists of recommended references.
In addition to the time spent attending lectures and tutorials and doing assignments, each student is expected to spend a significant amount of time preparing for lectures, reading the literature, updating lecture notes, learning the key definitions and formulae, attempting exercises from the past tests or exam papers, and revising for exams (an average of 9 hours per week is recommended).Students are encouraged to follow developments in the global and local population and the population related issues debates which are reported in the media.
Prizes
A prize from “The Macquarie University Marketing and Management Prizes” will be awarded to a student who has the highest proficiency in this unit.
Prescribed Textbook and/or Materials
Weeks, John R. (2007) Population: An Introduction to Concepts and Issues, Wadsworth Publishing. The book is available for purchase from the Co-op Bookshop.
It is assumed that students are familiar and competent in demographic techniques previously taught in DEM255 or DEM256 or DEM127. To refresh their competence students are advised to consult the book on Demographic Methods and Concepts by Donald T. Rowland (2003); or Demographic Techniques by A.H. Pollard, F. Yusuf and G.N. Pollard (available in the special Reserve Section of the Library).
Students will also be referred to books, book chapters, and other materials for the weekly lectures. A list of references for the various topics covered in the unit is available online via Online Learning @MQhttp://ilearn.mq.edu.au. It is advisable that students download the lecture notes from the iLearn and reading materials from the library or relevant databases prior to the lecture time. Hardcopies of teaching and reading materials will NOT be provided in the class. It is highly recommended that students compile notes of their own based on the materials covered in lectures and tutorials and from recommended readings.
Technology Used and Required
Students are expected to be familiar with the use of basic office software (i.e. word processing, spreadsheet, and power point) and the use of Moodle-Online Learning @MQ http://ilearn.mq.edu.au.
Echo Reading: All lectures may be recorded using the Echo Recording system, it will depend on the availability of its facility in the lecture class. Whilst the Echo Recording may provide an additional resource, students are advised that no guarantees are given in relation to the availability or quality of the sound recordings or the functioning of any related websites or links to files of recordings of lectures. Students are expected to attend the lectures on a regular basis and to compile notes during the course of the lectures. Thus any failing of the Echo Recording will not be accepted as grounds for appeal.