Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Miriam Williams
Contact via email
W3A 431
by appointment
Lecturer
Ashraful Alam
Contact via email
by appointment
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Credit points |
Credit points
9
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Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to BPlan and (39cp at 100 level or above) and permission by special approval
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Corequisites |
Corequisites
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Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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Unit description |
Unit description
This unit provides an off-campus, work-integrated learning experience in the planning field. Placements may be undertaken across a range of sectors (such as government, industry, non-profit, industry and professional associations). Students complete a self-contained project during their placement as well as a critical appreciation of planning practice, ethics and learning. As far as possible, placements are arranged in accordance with each student's background, skills, experience, professional/academic interests and career aspirations. Students must complete 25 days work placement plus attend workshops on campus.
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Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Late Submission Penalty
Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, (a) a penalty for lateness will apply – two (2) marks out of 100 will be deducted per day for assignments submitted after the due date – and (b) no assignment will be accepted more than seven (7) days (incl. weekends) after the original submission deadline. No late submissions will be accepted for timed assessments – e.g. quizzes, online tests.
Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
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Review a planning issue | 15% | No | 12th March (midnight) Week 3 |
Project Presentation | 20% | No | 9th April (in class) Week 7 |
Project Implementation Plan | 20% | No | 14th May (midnight) Week 10 |
Workplace Assessment | 10% | No | 28th May Week 12 |
Reflective journal | 25% | No | 4th June (midnight) Week 13 |
Active workshop participation | 10% | No | Throughout Semester |
Due: 12th March (midnight) Week 3
Weighting: 15%
SUBMISSION: Turnitin via the GEOP461 iLearn site
Part A. The purpose of this assessment is to critically assess a current planning issue, strategy or policy (1200 words max) relevant to your placement organisation. You are required to:
Part B. You are to provide a 1 page briefing report for the director of planning at your placement organisation. This should be formatted around the following headings:
NOTE: Careful selection of a current media article on a planning issue, strategy or policy will assist you in this assessment task.
Detailed assessment criteria can be found on the iLearn site for this course.
Due: 9th April (in class) Week 7
Weighting: 20%
This assessment task requires you to make a 12 minute oral presentation on your placement project (this includes 7 minutes for your presentation and 5 minutes for questions). The presentation should be engaging and professional. It may be made using Power Point or another format that you think would be appropriate. Topics to be covered include:
You may include images, graphs and other legitimate material if they add value to your presentation.
The time limit for presentations will be enforced. Tailoring your presentation to the time limit is an assessable element.
Detailed assessment criteria can be found on the iLearn site for this course.
Due: 14th May (midnight) Week 10
Weighting: 20%
SUBMISSION: Turnitin via the GEOP461 iLearn site
You are required to prepare a 2000 word project implementation plan on your placement project which will include addressing the following:
Detailed assessment criteria can be found on the iLearn site for this course.
Due: 28th May Week 12
Weighting: 10%
This is an evaluation survey and report by your workplace supervisor on your project and placement. Their evaluation and report will be emailed directly to the unit convenor for review and consideration. The evaluation will cover your performance in the workplace, standard of work, interaction with staff and colleagues and job readiness.
Due: 4th June (midnight) Week 13
Weighting: 25%
You must keep a reflective journal throughout your placement and write up weekly entries reflecting on your work placement and workshop participation. A Reflective Journal is a record of your thoughts and experiences. It is essentially a learning tool, designed to help you make the most of your placement and does so by encouraging you to:
The format that your journal entries take is entirely up to you. As suggestions your journal entries may be:
In other words the journal is an important aid to making the most of your placement and to identifying issues that have a special relevance to you and your professional, academic and personal development.
ASSESSMENT TASK
SUBMISSION: Turnitin via the GEOP461 iLearn site
The Reflective Journal you submit for assessment must be an edited and ‘tighter’ version of your weekly reflective journal and should not exceed 2,000 words in length. As part of your submitted journal you are required to reflect on the key elements of what you have learned/experienced both in class and on placement; discuss your plan for future activities which build on these experiences; and make connections between what you learn at university and its application in the workplace.
Detailed assessment criteria can be found on the iLearn site for this course.
Due: Throughout Semester
Weighting: 10%
There are five scheduled workshops throughout the semester. Each workshop is worth 2 marks (i.e. 2% of your final unit grade). Students will be allocated 1 mark for attendance at each workshop and 1 mark will be allocated for participation. Students who substantially contribute to the workshop by participating in in-class activities and discussions will be awarded the full 1 mark. Partial marks will be awarded for less substantial participation.
Detailed assessment criteria can be found on the iLearn site for this course.
Required and recommended reading:
There is no required text for GEOP461. However, the following materials are useful.
Learning Skills workshops on Reflective Writing http://www.students.mq.edu.au/support/learning_skills/workshops/academic_language_and_learning_workshops/
Sandercock, L. 2004. ‘Towards a Planning Imagination for the 21st Century’ Journal of American Planning Association, 70: 2.
Sandercock, L. 2003. Cosmopolis II. Mongrel Cities in the 21st Century, London: Continuum.
Sandercock, L. 1998. Towards Cosmopolis, Chichester: John Wiley and Sons. (‘Appendix – The Planner Tamed: Preparing Planners for the Twenty-First Century’)
See iLearn for additional resources.
Tuesdays (selected dates) 3 - 6pm C5C 209
Wk # |
Date |
Workshop topic |
Assessments |
1 |
26 February |
Workshop 1 Introduction to unit and assessments Reflective planning and ethics activity |
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2 | 5 March | No class | |
3 | 12 March |
Workshop 2 Overview of placements Skills check - submissions |
Assessment 1 - Planning Issue |
4 | 19 March | No class | |
5 | 26 March | No class | |
6 | 2 April | No class | |
7 | 9 April |
Workshop 3 Student project presentations |
Assessment 2 - Presentations |
MID-SEMESTER BREAK | |||
8 | 30 April | No class | |
9 | 7 May | No class | |
10 | 14 May |
Workshop 4 Planning Jobs Selection criteria Interview tips - MQ Careers |
Assessment 3 - Project Implementation Plan |
11 | 21 May | No class | |
12 | 28 May |
Workshop 5 Interview techniques Unit overview |
Assessment 4- Workplace Assessment |
13 | 4 June | No class | Assessment 5 - Reflective Journal |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct
Results shown in iLearn, or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as 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 ask.mq.edu.au.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.
This graduate capability is supported by:
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