Word limits

There are no set word limits on any task, and a variety of media and formats are allowed, but notionally students will produce a unique body of work that is equivalent to 6000 words.

Task Submission

Students are required to submit all assessment tasks via the appropriate Turnitin link on the unit's ilearn site by the advertised due date, unless an extension has been approved. Students are responsible for checking that their submission has been successful and has been submitted by the due date and time. The Originality Report provides students with a similarity index that may indicate if plagiarism has occurred. Students will be able to make amendments to their drafts prior to their final submission on the due date. Students may use Turnitin’s Originality Report as a learning tool to improve their academic writing.

Return of Grades

Grades for each task will be released approximately two weeks after the submission date, with detailed feedback emailed to you at your @students.mq.edu.au email address. An ilearn announcement will be made when your grades and feedback are available.

Requesting a remark of an assignment

If you have evidence that your task has been incorrectly assessed against the grade descriptors you can request a re-mark.  To request a re-mark you need to contact  the unit convenor within 7 days of the date of return of the assignment and provide a detailed assessment of your script against the task criteria. Evidence from your assignment must be provided to support your judgements.

Note: Failed assessments can not be re-submitted as they are all double-marked as a part of the moderation process.

Please note: The outcome of a re-mark may be a higher/lower or unchanged grade. Grades are standards referenced and effort is NOT a criterion.

Confidentiality

Students must respect the need for sensitivity and confidentially and ensure that privacy obligations are met. There should be nothing in assessment submissions that identifies a centre or school. Use only the first name for children, families and staff. Do not record details that enable identification of the site, and of the adults or children.

Extensions and Late Penalties

Applications for extensions must be made via AskMQ at https://ask.mq.edu.au as a Special Consideration request before the submission date. Students who experience a disruption to their studies through ill-health or misadventure are able to apply for this request. Extensions can only be granted if they meet the Special Considerations policy and are submitted via https://ask.mq.edu.au/. This will ensure consistency in the consideration of such requests is maintained.

In general, there should be no need for extensions except through illness or misadventure that would be categorised as unavoidable disruption according to the University definition of same, see:  https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

Late submissions without extension will receive a penalty of 5% reduction of the total possible mark for each day late (including weekends and public holidays). You are reminded that submitting even just 1 day late could be the difference between passing and failing a unit. Late penalties are applied by unit convenors or their delegates after tasks are assessed.

No assessable work will be accepted after the return/release of marked work on the same topic. If a student is still permitted to submit on the basis of unavoidable disruption, an alternative topic may be set.

Students should keep an electronic file of all assessments. Claims regarding "lost" assessments cannot be made if the file cannot be produced. It is also advisable to keep an electronic file of all drafts and the final submission on a USB untouched/unopened after submission. This can be used to demonstrate easily that the assessment has not been amended after the submission date.

Special Considerations

The following link takes you to the Special Considerations policy, which makes clear the ways in which you can apply for special consideration in times of difficulty.

https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration

University policy on grading

Criteria for awarding grades for assessment tasks

Assignments will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the University's Grading Policy. The following descriptive criteria are included for your information.

Note: If you fail a unit with a professional experience component the fail grade will be on your transcript irrespective of the timing of when the placement takes place.

Criteria for awarding grades in the unit

Students will be awarded grades ranging from HD to F according to guidelines set out in the policy: https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment-in-effect-from-session-2-2016

The following generic grade descriptors provide university-wide standards for awarding final grades.

Results

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.

About this unit

At Macquarie, our Masters programs are designed to help you, as educators, to respond to the challenges of changing educational environments by enabling you to develop, implement and evaluate innovative, evidence-based solutions which address educational problems or issues that arise in your organisation [Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical citizens].

In the course of your studies you have developed specialist knowledge and skills in the advanced theory and practices of Early Childhood, Learning and Teaching, or Leadership [Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills], as well as being trained in the overarching theories and practices of innovation and change in educational organisations and of educational research methodologies [Research and Problem Solving Capability].

You have also developed your knowledge and skills in three key areas which underlie scholarship in the discipline of education: accessing the most up to date sources of research and scholarship in Education; analysing and synthesising this highly technical literature [Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking]; and effectively communicating to both academic and non-academic audiences [Effective Communication].

The Australian Quality Framework, a national policy which regulates all post-secondary qualifications, requires that our Masters students, as the culmination of their studies, plan and execute a substantial research based piece of scholarship in which they apply, with “creativity and initiative” and “high level personal autonomy and accountability”, the knowledge and skills they have acquired throughout their program.

In this unit you will produce a substantial piece of scholarship relating to a problem or issue in educational theory, policy, or practice, which should be focused on enhancing learning in your organisation. In doing so you will draw upon all of the knowledge and skills you have developed in your studies, and you are encouraged to expand and refine your understanding of what you have already documented in the portfolio of work you have accumulated throughout your program [Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative].

Teaching and Learning Strategies

The unit adopts a task-based approach wherein the learning activities support the development, and demonstration, of authentic knowledge and skills required by innovative educators. Further, the assessment tasks are progressive: earlier tasks scaffolding the development of the final assessment task. This approach allows each student time to reflect on the feedback they receive at each stage in the process, and this serves to enhance the quality of their final product.

Much of the formative feedback is provided by peers, which reflects the objective to promote a "collaborative approach to designing and implementing educational innovations”. Such an approach is desirable because educational organisations, the problems that arise within, and solutions to those problems, all involve complex social processes and effective innovation and change depends on leveraging social capital. The effective use of social capital, however, requires reciprocity, trust and cooperation, so one’s effectiveness as an innovator and change agent also depends upon one’s willingness to assist others to do likewise. Feedback will also be provided by the unit convenor.

Electronic Communication

It is the student’s responsibility to check all electronic communication on a regular weekly basis.  Communication may occur via:

• Official MQ Student Email Address
• The Dialogue function on iLearn
• Other iLearn communication functions

Unit Expectations:

Students are expected to locate, summarise, critically analyse, and synthesis materials relevant to their topic of interest and to submit assessment tasks by their due dates. Students are also expected to engage with the work of fellow students and to provide feedback on the progress of their work.

Attendance

The work for the unit is largely online, via the unit’s ilearn site, although there are scheduled workshops for those who choose to attend (see schedule below). Podcasts will be available for those who choose not to attend.

Textbook

There is no prescribed text for this unit. Each student will base their work on materials they locate using the library search skills they have developed during the course of their studies.

Withdrawing from this PG Unit

If you are considering withdrawing from this unit, please seek academic advice by writing to https://ask.mq.edu.au before doing so as this unit may be a co-requisite or prerequisite for units in the following semesters and may impact on your progression through the degree.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/support/student_conduct/

Student support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

• Workshops
• StudyWise
• Academic Integrity Module for Students
• Ask a Learning Adviser

Student enquiry service

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

Equity support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

IT help

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.